AN ENGLISH pharmacist, who had enough chemicals to make £157,000 worth of ecstasy tablets, has been jailed for five years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Brian Cooper (50), from Mitcham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to having 1,152.7 grams of methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) for supply at St Michael's Wharf, Dun Laoghaire, on June 30th, 1995. He also admitted unlawfully manufacturing MDMA at a house in Tandy's Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin, on or about the same date.
Det Sgt Padraig de Burca told prosecuting counsel, Mr Tom O'Connell, that 1,442 grams of the chemicals were found in the house.
The total haul had a £157,000 street value. There was sufficient powder to make 15,748 tablets and they could be sold at from £10 to £15 each.
Det Sgt de Burca said copy books with chemical formulae for making the tablets were found in Cooper's car when it was stopped in Dun Laoghaire. Drills, scales and extension cables were also found.
Judge Kieran O'Connor said foreigners who came to Ireland to deal in drugs were not welcome. He backdated the sentence to begin from last June 30th.
Judge O'Connor noted Cooper had no previous convictions and came from a respectable background. He said Cooper had achieved distinction in his career and should have been looking forward to his tranquil years, instead of appearing in court in connection with drugs.
Det Sgt de Burca agreed with defence counsel, Mr Martin Giblin, that Cooper had co operated with gardai. When his car was stopped he indicated the chemicals and then took gardai without prompting to the house.
Other people had also been charged in connection with the crime. Gardai found a chemical laboratory in the house.
Mr Giblin said Cooper's life fell asunder when his marriage disintegrated. He lost his job, got, into debt and difficult circumstances.
"He was spotted by criminals during a period when he was totally destructed and it was with inexorable logic that he has finished up in this situation," said counsel.
Mr Giblin added that Cooper regretted the shame he had brought on his family. As a foreigner he would find it difficult to serve a prison sentence here.