Seven years for 'fantasist' who stored cocaine for criminals

A "fantasist" who fell into debt because of his cocaine addiction and stored over €500,000 worth of the drug in his bedroom for criminals in an effort to reduce the liability has been given a seven-year sentence.

Paul O' Flaherty (aged 26) with an address at Iveagh Buildings, Bride Street, pleaded guilty to possession of the cocaine for sale or supply at Montpelier Square, Dublin 7 on July 20, 2007.

Judge Patrick McCartan noted that O' Flaherty was "low down on the ladder" of drug crime but said he was nevertheless "a cog in the wheel of distribution".

Judge McCartan imposed a seven year sentence and suspended the final three years on strict conditions.

Detective Garda John Fitzgerald told Mr Bernard Condon BL, prosecuting, that gardaí acting on confidential information searched O' Flaherty’s then home at Montpelier Square and found cocaine with a street value of €519,575 was found in a bedroom.

O' Flaherty initially told gardaí that he was holding the drugs to help gardai catch "a bigger fish" but later withdrew the allegation. He admitted he had a problem with cocaine use and had run up a drug debt.

Det. Gda Fitzgerald agreed with defence counsel, Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, that O' Flaherty, who has four previous convictions, had been the subject of threats as a result of his debt.

Ms Kennedy said O' Flaherty started using cocaine following the death of his mother which had a deep effect on him. She said he was a vulnerable person who was anxious to be liked by his peers and was a "fantasist" who had an idealised image of himself.