A teenager who offered heroin to undercover gardaí has been jailed for three years.
Mark Moran (19) of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, was described by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court as a "drugs wholesaler" who was selling in bulk when caught with heroin valued €6,500 under a bush.
Moran had nine previous convictions including a two-year term of detention for a hit-and-run accident, for which he was also banned from driving for 25 years.
Garda John Brady told the court he was involved a surveillance operation at Liffey Park on February 18th, 2002 where Moran was seen carrying out transactions involving moving back and forward to a bush. There were other young men around the area.
Garda Brady said he alerted other gardaí in the area and when they approached Moran he asked them if they wanted "gear" which they believed meant heroin.
He offered the gardaí two packs from under the bush and asked for €500 but was arrested. The other young people who had been with him ran off immediately.
Garda Brady said Moran was further up the chain than a streets drug dealer and the heroin found was not in street packs. He sold the heroin in larger amounts than street deals.
Judge Hogan suspended the final 12 months of the sentence under conditions and directed the confiscation of €240 found on Moran.