Nine-year sentence for addict caught with €40,000 worth of heroin

A drug addict caught with nearly €40,000 worth of heroin and a large haul of stolen property has been given a nine-year sentence.

Alan Phelan, who has 17 convictions for stealing cars, was also sentenced for the unlawful use of a vehicle where he was caught in a car in the early hours of the morning which had been stolen shortly before.

The 39-year-old of New Park, Kiltipper, Tallaght has 67 previous convictions including car theft, robbery and drugs offences.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 250 grams of heroin at his home on March 15, 2010, possession of stolen items at his home on November 3, 2010 and burglary and unlawful use of a car at Knocklyon Road and Landsdowne Road on January 21, 2011.

A five year sentence was imposed on Phelan for the drug possession and a consecutive four years for the remaining counts.

The judge suspended the final two years after taking into account his early guilty pleas and co-operation with gardaí.