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27/04/2010
Dublin Drugs Dealer Jailed For 18 Years
A Dublin man has today been jailed for 18 years after transporting €6.4 million worth of heroin in his van.
Michael Byrne, 36, of Old Tower, Clondalkin, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possessing 32 kilograms of heroin in the Culmore Road area of Palmerstown on January 15th, 2008 following a six-day trial last month.
While delivering the sentence, Judge Frank O'Donnell told Byrne, who has 19 previous convictions including assaulting gardaí, larceny and handling stolen property, he had given a "calculated and well-rehearsed performance" in the witness box during his trial.
Judge O'Donnell described the father-of-five as a "drug baron" who was "no small fry in the (drugs) industry" and accused him of feigned concern for his children describing his testimony as "a performance Laurence Olivier would have been proud of".
Judge O'Donnell complimented the gardaí on their work in the case and said he was going to "send out a message" with the 18-year sentence.
Today's sentence comes only days after a major Irish drug figure, Eamon Dunne, was shot dead in a what has been described as a "professional hit" at the weekend.
(DW/BMCC)
Michael Byrne, 36, of Old Tower, Clondalkin, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possessing 32 kilograms of heroin in the Culmore Road area of Palmerstown on January 15th, 2008 following a six-day trial last month.
While delivering the sentence, Judge Frank O'Donnell told Byrne, who has 19 previous convictions including assaulting gardaí, larceny and handling stolen property, he had given a "calculated and well-rehearsed performance" in the witness box during his trial.
Judge O'Donnell described the father-of-five as a "drug baron" who was "no small fry in the (drugs) industry" and accused him of feigned concern for his children describing his testimony as "a performance Laurence Olivier would have been proud of".
Judge O'Donnell complimented the gardaí on their work in the case and said he was going to "send out a message" with the 18-year sentence.
Today's sentence comes only days after a major Irish drug figure, Eamon Dunne, was shot dead in a what has been described as a "professional hit" at the weekend.
(DW/BMCC)
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€2.2m Pledged To Implement National Drugs Strategy
Government has committed some €2.28 million to 12 strategic health initiatives to address priorities set out in the National Drugs Strategy. Each project aimed at tackling drug and alcohol misuse throughout the country will be awarded €190,000 this month, with funding continuing to June 2022.
€2.2m Pledged To Implement National Drugs Strategy
Government has committed some €2.28 million to 12 strategic health initiatives to address priorities set out in the National Drugs Strategy. Each project aimed at tackling drug and alcohol misuse throughout the country will be awarded €190,000 this month, with funding continuing to June 2022.
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Three Arrested In Connection With Large Drugs Seizure In Co Cork
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Three Arrested In Connection With Large Drugs Seizure In Co Cork
Three people have been arrested in connection with a large drugs seizure in County Cork. As part of an ongoing operation into the sale and supply of controlled substances in the Cork area, Gardaí from Bandon Garda station searched a house at Presentation Terrace, Kinsale on the 27 October.
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Eight In Court Charged In Connection With Major Drugs Investigation
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Eight In Court Charged In Connection With Major Drugs Investigation
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Cocaine And Cannabis Seized In Co Kildare
Cocaine and cannabis herb worth an estimated €34,000 has been seized in Moone, Co Kildare. As part of a planned search of a premises at Lower Belan, garda uncovered €14,000 worth of cocaine and €20,000 worth of cannabis, shortly before midnight on Sunday, 12 June.
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Assorted Drugs Worth €300,000 Seized In Dublin
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Assorted Drugs Worth €300,000 Seized In Dublin
A quantity of drugs worth an estimated €300,000 has been seized during an Operation Thistle operation in Dublin's South City Centre. One kilo of heroin, 1.75kg of cocaine and 1.8kg of cannabis resin were seized during the operation targeting organised criminals in the area. Gardaí from the D.M.R.
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