Drug dealer worked in anti-drugs youth group

A convicted drug dealer who worked in an organisation that tried to keep children in the area away from drugs has been sentenced to ten years in prison after he was caught with over €43,000 worth of cocaine.

Jason Rooney (aged 22) of Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, was jailed for seven years last month in Trim Circuit Criminal Court, Co Meath, after he was caught with €500,000 worth of drugs. He had eight other previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Detective Garda Kevin Cleary accepted that gardaí had previously described Rooney as having "a stupid gilly role" and that he was "vulnerable to exploitation by others". He was now under threat in prison and was on 23 hour lockup.

Rooney pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to being in possession of the cocaine worth €43,250 for sale or supply at his sister’s home and €1,500 worth of "ecstasy" on March 30, 2006. He was using this house purely for the purpose of preparing the cocaine for distribution.

Judge Desmond Hogan took into account Rooney’s plea of guilty, co-operation with the garda investigation and the fact that he took responsibility for the drugs when others could have been suspected of being involved.

He said he had some concerns about Rooney’s likelihood to re-offend after hearing evidence that the accused got involved in the operation dealt with in Trim because he came under pressure from others following his arrest in this offence.

Judge Hogan suspended the last three years of the sentence on condition that Rooney keep the peace and be of good behaviour for seven years upon his release from prison.

Mr Giollaiosa O’Lideadha SC, defending, said that it was "a paradoxical situation" that his client had been working in an organisation trying to keep young people away from drugs yet he went on to have two convictions for drug dealing.

He asked Judge Hogan to take into account that his role in the voluntary organisation proved that he had made a good contribution to society in the past and added that he had also trained young people in martial arts, soccer and gaelic football.

Det Gda Cleary told Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, prosecuting, that the drugs were found in the kitchen of Rooney’s sister’s home along with a weighing scales. Rooney admitted to preparing the cocaine there, where he mixed it with teething tablets before selling it on.

He claimed that he had been involved in the operation for three or four weeks and was selling one ounce bags of cocaine for €800. He said the "ecstasy" was for his own use, "save for one or two" that he would sell on.

Det Gda Cleary agreed with Mr O’Lideadha that Rooney’s only role in the case in Trim was picking up a person who had just delivered the drugs elsewhere and that he likely got involved because he was under pressure following his arrest on these charges.