A man who helped to set up a charity to raise funds for an Ethiopian orphanage has been jailed for six years for possession of drugs for sale or supply valued at €131,000.
Barry McGovern (33), a barber from Raheny, was forced to store the drugs in his house after disposing of cannabis resin he found in a wheelie bin.
Det Garda Cathal Collins told Ms Mary Rose Gearty, prosecuting, the owners of the drugs said he was in debt to them for their street value and to pay off this debt he was to store drugs in his home.
McGovern pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 1kg of cocaine, 1kg of speed, 2,000 ecstasy tablets and a 9 oz bar of cannabis last July 23rd.
Judge Desmond Hogan, who suspended the final two years of the sentence, heard that McGovern had no previous convictions, fully admitted his responsibility and elected to go into custody when he was arraigned in June.
Testimonials from members of the community, including a priest and a GP, were handed into court to attest to his good character. McGovern had been involved in setting up the Save A Life charity and had raised funds for a hospice and an Ethiopian orphanage.
Judge Hogan said pressure had been put on McGovern to store the drugs.
He said he must have regard to the value and type of drugs and the fact that McGovern always had the option of going to gardaí. Due to mitigating factors it would be "unjust" to impose the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.