Dublin man given seven-year jail term for part in €2m heroin haul

A Dublin man has been given a seven-year sentence for his involvement in a €2m drug seizure.

Edward Rooney, (aged 23) of Oak Downs, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply at Cedarview, Corbally, Saggart on January 25, 2008.

Judge Patrick McCartan suspended the last four years of the seven-year sentence for his part in the crime.

The court heard the accused pleaded guilty to the offence on June 10 this year.

Detective Garda Tom Griffin told Ms Karen O’Connor BL, prosecuting, that the value of heroin seized was €1,957,320

He said the 10 packages were found in the floor of a freight, which arrived from Belgium and they were intercepted by customs at Dublin Port who then flagged it to gardaí.

A field examination confirmed the substance was heroin and gardai then carried out a surveillance operation.

“He indicated to the guards that he thought it was gold,” said Det Gda Griffin.

The court was told Rooney who acting as a courier said: “Tell me it’s not heroin.”

When asked who owned it he replied: “I dunno, I was given €200.”

Det Gda Griffin said that the accused became involved at a very late stage.

He confirmed that Rooney had no previous convictions but when his house at Oak Downs was searched, cannabis and cocaine were found.

His co-accused, Paul Drew, (aged 24), of Ferns Close, Ferns Bridge, Monasterevin, was given a 10-year sentence on July 3, last year for the offence but the court heard he had three previous convictions for crimes including theft and public order.

Defence counsel, Ms Iseult O'Malley SC, said members of the Rooney family were in court and said Rooney was deeply remorseful.

The court heard Rooney’s birth mother was a member of the travelling community and he was fostered at an early age. He changed his name to Rooney when he was 18.

Judge McCartan noted the accused did not enter his plea at the most opportune time but said he accepted his involvement was at a late stage.

“Mr Rooney’s involvement was at the very end of the ladder and he came into it a very late stage. Nonetheless, I have to take very serious regard to the potential damage of those drugs to the community,” said the judge.

Judge McCartan said he pleaded guilty to the charge which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years as was given in the case of his co-accused.

He said heroin was “one of the most pernicious drugs in the community but that it would be “manifestly unjust to impose a 10-year sentence. However he is not a person of good character …When his house was searched cannabis and cocaine were found.”

“We know he resents his birth mother but wasn't he so fortunate that Mr and Mrs Rooney took him in,” said the judge.

Judge McCartan said the appropriate sentence would be seven years with four years suspended. The judge said that he would be kept under the supervision of the probation service for two years after his release.

Judge McCartan also said that he hoped the suspension of the final four years of the sentence would “act as an incentive for Mr Rooney to get on with a better life”.