Had €300,000 worth of illegal drugs for sale

A 39-year-old Dublin man who had drugs with an estimated street value of over €300,000 for sale or supply was sentenced to eight years when he pleaded guilty to the offence at Cavan Circuit Court on Monday. Tyrone Browne of Carrickabane, Ballinagh, but originally from Dublin, was charged that on July 25 at Carrickabane, Ballinagh, he had in his possession cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines for sale or supply with a value of €13,000. The defendant was given a six-year concurrent sentence for possessing a Lamber under-and-over sawn-off shotgun on the same occasion. Detective Garda Nigel McInaw, Drogheda Garda Station, said he obtained a search warrant and a search was carried out at the home of the defendant. During the course of the search, the sawn-off shotgun was discovered in an outhouse behind the frame of an old television. The various drugs and mixing agents were found in the house. The drugs were sent to Dublin for analysis and the total weight of the drugs was 3.989 kilograms. Garda McInaw said the street value of the drugs was €314,528. The sawn-off shotgun was a Spanish make and double barrelled. The defendant was taken to Drogheda where he was questioned and admitted he was holding the drugs for someone else. He was paid €800 initially and was promised more, as well as a supply of drugs for himself. Det. Garda McInaw said the accused denied the shotgun was his. He was asked to bring the gun to Cavan and mind it. Browne had no previous convictions. He was separated with a six-year-old child. The accused had rented the house in which he was living in the name of Michael Phelan. Cross-examined by Ms. O'Malley SC (instructed by Paddy Goodwin solicitor), Det. McInaw said the accused never came to garda attention prior to this and came from a good family back ground. He was an intelligent person and had received third level education. He then lost his job and his marriage broke up. His family were shocked when they discovered what he was up to. Phyllis Browne, mother, said it was a terrible shock to them when they found out. It caused the a lot of pain and trauma. They would be keep an eye on Tyrone in future and it would not happen again. She looked after his six-year-old child, as his former wife was studying to be a nurse. Judge John O'Hagan said the maximum sentenced was life for the drug offences and ten years for the firearm. They were extremely serious offences. The legislator had asked for a minimum of ten years. "It was probably one of the biggest hauls the gardaí had come across." "The major element of the drugs was cocaine and it was intended to supply it to others. Those involved were going to make in the region of €314,500. Its a most serious offence," said the judge. Judging by a paraphernalia, which was located in the house, it was obvious the house was being used as a depot for the drugs to be sold or supplied. "There was a blender, mixing agent, mobile phone, scales, a hide all the paraphernalia one would associate with a drugs factory," said Judge O'Hagan. "Another aggravating factor was the sawn-off shotgun, which is often used by these ruthless people who go to extreme lengths to protect their trade." These guns are absolutely lethal, added the judge, and a blast from it would be devastating to anyone hit. The accused knew the stuff was there and he rented the property under an alias. He knew what he was doing was wrong. The accused was hooked on drugs, he had to get his supply and he knowingly engaged in this activity, added Judge O'Hagan. "The defendant was educated, which meant he could make rational decisions but he didn't." Judge O'Hagan had sympathy for the family. He had to give the defendant credit for his early plea, he had no previous convictions and saved the State the cost of a trial. "Drug barons seek individuals like the defendant who have not come to garda attention and no one would be looking for him." The defendant was a good candidate for rehabilitation but the sentence had to be proportionate. If he had been found guilty by a jury, Judge O'Hagan would have imposed a 12-year sentence. "The people he worked for were totally unscrupulous and they got him in trouble." Judge O'Hagan back dated the sentences to July 28, 2008, the date of his remand. Leave for appeal was refused.