DRUG JAIL TERMS TREBLED

Jail sentences averaging almost six years for drug trafficking are
almost treble the penalty of five years ago, a study shows.

The failure of the courts to impose the minimum sentence in a number
of recent high profile cases had led to calls for changes in the law.
But that has been rejected by the Justice Minister on constitutional
grounds.

In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday Donal Keenan (26),
Galtymore Close, Drimnagh, was jailed for three years as the owner and
driver of a van carrying more than pounds 1m worth of ecstasy tablets.
He had pleaded guilty to possession of more than 100,000 tablets, said
to be worth pounds 10 each, for sale or supply on August 11, 1999.