A drug dealer caught with cocaine valued at some €64,000 three months after his release from jail has been given a 12-year sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Robert Harrison (41), Grange View Road, Clondalkin, admitted having about a kilo of cocaine, worth €64,342, for sale or supply on August 16th, 2005. He also admitted having €770 worth of cocaine, at Parkgate Street, on the same date. Harrison had 14 previous convictions, including a five-year drugs dealing sentence imposed on February 20th, 2002 and from which he was released on remission just three months before this latest offence.
Det Sgt William Carolan told John Quirke, prosecuting, that the larger amount of cocaine was found when Harrison's home was searched on August 16th, 2005 after two detectives caught him selling €770 worth of cocaine from a car on Parkgate Street, near Heuston Station.
Det Garda Carolan agreed with Martin Giblin SC, defending, that Harrison admitted the two offences but said he would not give any further information.
Mr Giblin said Harrison was in debt to another dealer over the seizure that led to his 2002 jail sentence and was engaged in drug dealing again to try to clear that debt when caught.
He could not give gardaí any further information because he was in fear of this other criminal.
Judge Delahunt said Harrison was "not at the bottom of the ladder" in the drug dealing trade. She suspended the last four years of the 12-year sentence.