A forklift driver who was delivering £200,000 of cannabis resin for a £400 fee has been jailed for the mandatory 10 years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Brian Hatton (48), single, of Loretto Row, Rathfarnham told gardaí he had done one previous run for the same drugs dealer he would not name out of fear.
He pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply on November 8th, 2001.
Judge Frank O'Donnell said the mandatory minimum sentence for such an offence was 10 years but the court could consider a lesser term if exceptional and specific circumstances, including a guilty plea or cooperation with the Garda, existed in the case.
"It is my view that in this case these factors are not strong enough to allow me to consider a lesser term and therefore I sentence you to 10 years," he said. "It is a very harsh penalty for a man with no previous convictions but nevertheless it is the law," Judge O'Donnell concluded.
He ordered that the drugs seized be forfeited and destroyed and refused Hatton leave to appeal severity of sentence. Hatton had no previous convictions and had not come to garda notice since the offence.