FORMER BOYZONE MEMBER HAD HEROIN IN HOTEL

A former member of Boyzone who used his car to chauffeur his drug boss
around Dublin to distribute heroin deals has had his sentence adjourned to
May 3rd.

Richard Rock (24), of Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, pleaded guilty to
possessing pounds 40 worth of heroin at the Northbrook Hotel, Northbrook
Road, Ranelagh. He also pleaded guilty before Judge Elizabeth Dunne, at
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to allowing his vehicle to be used to carry
drugs on the same date, June 2nd, 1998.

His father, singer Dickie Rock, broke down in the witness-box as he said:
"My son has already received a sentence over the last two years due to
publicity he did not deserve because of me." Det Garda Tom O'Dwyer told Mr
Des Zaiden, prosecuting, that four men were arrested after heroin and drug
paraphernalia were found in a room at the Northbrook Hotel when gardai
raided it.

Rock and his "main man", John Murphy, were stopped on the stairs to the
hotel room and a deal of heroin valued pounds 40 was found in Rock's
pocket. Heroin worth pounds 3,000 was found on Murphy. Det Garda O'Dwyer
said Rock had driven to Ballyfermot to pick up Murphy and bring him to the
hotel.

They had planned to then drive to various locations in the city centre to
distribute drugs. Rock's car was seized and searched by gardai and nothing
was found in it. Rock said he had worked for Murphy as a DJ in Sides
nightclub, Dame Street, and used to get physeptone from him.

Murphy (49), of Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot, was given a five years'
suspended sentence on January 20th last. Mr Patrick Gageby SC, defending,
said Rock lived with his parents. He had a girlfriend and was employed in a
shop in town. He said that since Rock was arrested he had dealt with his
drug problem through hospital treatment and was now drug-free.

Mr Rock snr said his son had left Boyzone because of a "musical
disagreement". He said he was concerned that if his son joined Boyzone it
would have an adverse effect on his Leaving Certificate.

He said his son got "mixed up" in drugs when he went to Spain and started
taking ecstasy and smoking heroin. Mr Gageby asked Judge Dunne to consider
that his client had no previous convictions. He submitted that the matter
could be disposed of under the Probation Act or by way of a community
service order.