Man jailed for having drugs worth €80k

A man has been jailed for three and half years after gardai caught him moving over €62,000 worth of cannabis resin from his car into a van.

Gardaí had confidential information about a possible drug transaction at the Topaz filling station on the North Road in Finglas, and Gary Cunningham (aged 33) was arrested as soon as officers swooped in.

He made immediate admissions and told gardai they would find “grass” in a wardrobe at his home and ecstasy tablets in his bedroom. A subsequent search of his home uncovered €6,000 worth of cannabis resin, €8,000 of cannabis herb and €2,500 worth of ecstasy tablets.

Cunningham told gardaí that he had a problem with cocaine and had built up a drug debt. He had agreed to meet with the owner of the van to hand over the drugs in order to pay off that debt.

Cunningham of Jamestown Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs, with a total value of €80,576, for sale or supply on May 27, 2011. He has five previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Judge Martin Nolan said Cunningham had been involved in both the distribution and transportation of cannabis and had “placed himself under an obligation because of his drug addiction”.

He accepted testimonials before the court which showed that he was well respected by his family.