Drugs duo jailed for 10 years

Two Clondalkin men convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last month of possession of heroin and cocaine valued at over €20,000 have been jailed for 10 years each by Judge Frank O’Donnell.

On their arrest Karl Rafferty (aged 22) lunged at arresting gardaí with a knife while Graham Dutton (aged 21) threw drugs out of a window.

Rafferty and Dutton, both with addresses at Greenfort Lawns, were found guilty following a week- long trial on charges of possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Rafferty’s home on October 21, 2006.

Judge O’Donnell said both men had fought the case "tooth and nail" and he found it difficult to distinguish between their roles. He accused Dutton of perjury because he took the stand during his trial and claimed the gardaí had framed him by pushing him into the room where the drugs were.

"I don’t accept that," Judge O’Donnell said. "You were far from a convincing witness when you got in the witness box and it now turns out you perjured yourself."

He heard Rafferty accepted the decision of the jury while Dutton still maintained his innocence. He jailed both men for the mandatory minimum of 10 years and told Rafferty: "you’re lucky it’s not a longer sentence."

Garda Mark Rowntree told Ms Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, that gardaí came to search Rafferty’s home and found the men in a rear upstairs room. He said Rafferty had a knife in his hand and lunged at gardaí before being restrained.

Dutton was seen throwing bags out a window which when retrieved by gardaí transpired to contain heroin valued at approximately €4,000. Rafferty had drugs valued at about €18,000 and electronic scales were also found.

Gda Rowntree said Dutton fled the scene after being brought downstairs but was arrested some days later.

Rafferty denied during interview having any drugs and said the first time he saw them was in the garda station. Dutton told gardaí he had nothing to do with the drugs and did not throw anything out the window.

Gda Rowntree said Dutton had one previous conviction for a public order offence and Rafferty had 19 previous convictions for road traffic offences, handling stolen goods and one for possession of drugs.