A man who hid £25,000 worth of cannabis in his daughter's handbag and was himself the victim of a drug-related attack has been jailed for five years.
Terence Martin, formerly of Ballymacaquin, Ardfert, Co Kerry, was arrested by gardai at Tralee railway station in March 1995 for the drugs offence. He was found in the town with guns in his car a month later.
Judge Frank O'Donnell said it was despicable that Martin used his daughter to carry drugs without her knowledge.
Martin (51), of Celbridge, Co Kildare, had his legs broken and was told to leave Kerry by a group of five or six men while awaiting sentence.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of supply and possession of cannabis resin on March 15th, 1995.
He has 11 previous convictions including a 12-month suspended sentence for common assault.
A group of men, armed with pickaxe handles, broke Martin's legs and caused serious damage to his property. A gun was put to his head and he was told to leave Kerry. His family have also had to leave the area.
Martin said he bought the drugs in Dublin for £7,000. He had come to Dublin to buy drugs.
Judge O'Donnell said it was extremely ironic that Martin had moved to Kerry under a rural rehousing scheme so that his family could avoid the problems of urban living.
The judge said that because of the injuries Martin had suffered, he would review the case on June 1st, 2000.