A man found with €150,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy has been jailed for seven years.
The sentence has been criticised as too lenient by anti-drugs campaigners.
John Paul Duff (26) of Foxborough Meadows, Lucan, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on July 29th, 1999 at a field in Scribblestown, Dublin 15.
Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Duff left the jurisdiction shortly after his arrest in the field and wasn't located despite efforts involving Interpol. He sentenced him to seven years, the last 12 months of which were suspended.
Following the sentencing, Dublin North Central TD Mr Tony Gregory demanded the implementation of the minimum sentence of ten years in cases involving possession of large quantities of drugs.
The law, which provides for a minimum sentence for possession of drugs above the value of €12,700 (£10,000) was enacted in 1999.
Mr Gregory said it was "high time" the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, acted to ensure the mandatory sentences are enforced. "It's outrageous that judiciary themselves, who are well aware of the incredible problems of drug dealing in this city are ignoring legislation brought in to counter it," he said.
Mr Ciaran Perry of the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD) also claimed Duff's sentence sent out "a clear message ... that drug dealing is not viewed seriously in Irish courtrooms."
The court heard that on July 29th, 1999, gardaí observed Duff and another man walking across the field towards the ditch. Duff was carrying a blue plastic bag. Gardaí apprehended Duff and found the bag contained 4,000 ecstasy tablets and 10 separate packets of cocaine amounting to over 266 grams. The second man escaped.
A more thorough search of the field conducted while Duff was in custody revealed a Tupperware dish containing 361 ecstasy tablets and a paint tin with 5,000 more ecstasy tablets. Both containers were buried in the field.
The court heard the total value of the drugs was €150,000.
Duff, who had a £500 per week drug habit at the time, absconded after he had been given £20,000 bail. He also put his home in Lucan up for sale just weeks after he was apprehended at the field.
Duff's accomplice gave himself up to gardaí later on the day of the offence, had pleaded guilty, and had been given a seven year sentence in May 2000.