Drug addict faces sentence after losing heroin cache at work

A father of four lost more than €16,000 worth of heroin while at work because he was high, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Andrew Browne (aged 37) arrived for work with a bag of drugs he had agreed to hold onto in return for €800 and some Valium. He was high on heroin when he arrived and was recorded on CCTV dropping the bag as he walked across the factory yard.

Browne of De Selby Crescent, Tallaght pleaded guilty to possession of 81 grams of heroin valued at €16,562 at Sonopress Ireland Ltd in the IDA Industrial Estate, Balbriggan on January 27, 2008.

Garda Sean Byrne told prosecuting counsel, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, that he received a call from an employee at the factory who had come across the wrapped packages of heroin. Gardaí looked at the CCTV footage and saw Browne drop the bag as he walked from his car.

He was arrested and initially denied owning the drugs but later admitted he had agreed to hold onto to them for someone else. At first he said did not use heroin but then said he had smoked some that day before work and his head was “mashed”.

Browne refused to identify who gave him the drugs because he said he was worried about the safety of his family.

Garda Byrne agreed with defence counsel, Mr Remy Farrell BL, that he had been so high that he had not noticed dropping the bag. He said he believed he had brought the drugs to work so he could use more during the day.

Garda Byrne added he had no previous convictions except for a minor cannabis possession charge and was not well-known to gardaí.

His father, Mr Alec Browne, a retired Scottish police officer, gave evidence that he was “not intelligent enough” to be a major drug dealer. He said he could not believe it when he heard what had happened and that his son was “basically a good person underneath”.

Mr Farrell said his client, who is originally from Scotland, had three children from a previous relationship and one with his present wife. He said he is a good father and had got another job after losing the one in Sonopress.

He said he was trying to address his addiction and was currently on a methadone programme.

Judge Katherine Delahunt said she wished to take some time to consider a sentence and remanded Browne in custody until later in the month.