A convicted drug dealer and robber who was operating "a heroin mixing factory" in west Dublin has been jailed for 10 years by Judge Thomas Teehan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Philip Delaney (34) if St Aongus Road, Tallaght, was found guilty earlier this month by a 10-1 majority of the jury after a three day trial of having heroin worth some €84,000 for sale or supply on December 6th, 2004.
Delaney's 14 previous convictions include a 12-year sentence imposed by Judge Cyril Kelly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 1998 when the court was told he was the person who introduced heroin to Tallaght. That sentence was reduced to seven years on appeal.
Unemployed and the father of two young children, Delaney has a total of 14 previous convictions dating back to 1987, including a four-year sentence in 1994 for robbery and possession of a firearm. His first drugs conviction was in 1990 when he was given a six-month sentence.
Det Sgt Frank O'Neill told Luan Ó Braonain, prosecuting, that on receipt of confidential information, surveillance was placed on the Allenton Drive premises on December 6th, 2004 while a search warrant was also procured.
Delaney's cousin, Christopher Markouski, was seen at the house by watching gardaí and later Delaney arrived carrying a large bag.
The house was then entered by gardaí who found all the signs that a room was being used as a heroin-mixing factory.
Gardaí recovered almost 420 grams of heroin valued at €83,000-€84,000.
Det Sgt O'Neill said he was covered in heroin powder when he successfully stopped Delaney from leaving by a bedroom window.
He got both of them out of the room quickly for safety. Delaney claimed he didn't know what was going on in the house but accepted responsibility for a small bag of heroin found.
Markouski took responsibility for the heroin and other items found and was given a six-year sentence with two years suspended when he pleaded guilty some time ago.
He is nine years younger than Delaney and had no previous convictions.
Judge Teehan noted that the crime carried a possible life sentence and there was not enough in Delaney's favour to enable the court to impose less than the mandatory minimum 10 years term.
Delaney pleaded guilty at the start of his trial to possession of a small bag containing heroin which was found in a bedroom at the house on the same date.