Man jailed for possession of €157k worth of drugs

An out of work carpenter found with €157,000 worth of cocaine and heroin has been jailed for seven years.

Christopher Lawless (19) of Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at College Lands, Mill Road, Saggart on July 6, 2010.

Garda Michael Noonan told Melanie Greally BL, prosecuting, that during a search gardai also found €2,000 in cash, weighing scales, and a tick list and diary keeping track of the movement of drugs.

He said Lawless had €80,934 worth of cocaine and €77,224 of heroin.

Patrick Marrinan SC, defending, said his client had worked as a carpenter until 2008 and was never involved in the drugs trade before this.

He said Lawless was devastated by the death of his baby son from cot death. He began abusing cocaine to cope and built up a €50,000 drug debt with a criminal gang.

He said he started moving the drugs for the gang and was paid €500 each time.

Gda Noonan agreed with Mr Marrinan there was a real threat to Lawless’s life if he told gardaí who he was working for.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a sentence of 10 years with three suspended.