Judge gives man 10 years in €100k ecstasy case

A sentence of ten years, with the last two years suspended, was imposed today on a man who was caught in a €100,000 ecstasy transaction in a remote area of County Cork.

Brendan Clifford of 15, The Orchard, Mallow, County Cork, shouted, “Go go go!” at the driver of the BMW as members of a drugs squad surveillance team closed in on the deal.

Clifford was arrested at the scene of the deal at Carhoo Upper, Coachford, Co Cork, on October 26, 2006.

Judge Con Murphy imposed a 10-year sentence on him today with the last two years suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Lar O’Brien said Clifford gave a vague and dubious accounts of his involvement in the drug-dealing, portraying himself as a facilitator while gardaí believed he was the organiser.

Det. Sgt O’Brien said the drugs squad received confidential information about the transaction the previous day and put Clifford under surveillance.

He left a house at The Lough in Cork and drove to Anderson’s Quay where he met a Northern Ireland-registered BMW and the cars travelled in convoy to Inniscarra and on to Dripsey and Coachford where they stopped in the isolated area.

Clifford was seen putting a bag into the BMW when the gardaí intercepted. The defendant shouted at the driver to go.

“The driver of the BMW took off and a third car that was also there took off with it. The defendant remained at the scene and was arrested,” Det. Sgt O’Brien said.

The detective followed the BMW and saw items being thrown out of it. They were later recovered and found to be brown envelopes containing €40,000. The BMW was abandoned and the driver fled through a wooded area.

Clifford was later found to have over €18,000 in cash which was confiscated and forfeited to the State along with the €40,000.

The defendant pleaded guilty to having drugs for the purpose of selling or supplying – the particular charge carrying a recommended minimum of 10 years.