TWO MEN IN POUNDS 3M DRUG CASE ESCAPE JAIL TERM

Two men who were found with pounds 3m worth of cannabis in flower pots
have been given suspended sentences.

The court was told the premises used to store the drugs has since been
burned to the ground by vigilantes though the owner was innocent of
any involvement in the crime.

Tallaght men Maurice O'Riordan (24), Pineview Road, and Christopher
Burke (28), Kilmartin Drive, pleaded guilty to possession of the
cannabis resin and amphetamine with the intent to supply on November
13, 1997.

VIGILANTES

Judge Frank O'Donnell imposed a seven year sentence on O'Riordan and a
four year sentence on Burke at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

He suspended both sentences for two years and said that if it was not
for the very favourable Garda and probation reports, both men would be
going to prison.

The court also heard that anti-drugs vigilantes regulate family visits
by Burke who had to move out of the area after they ordered him to
leave. The vigilantes allow him visit his children in Tallaght three
nights a week.

SURVEILLANCE

Judge O'Donnell said it was a sad state of affairs that certain people
are allowed to control who visits certain parts of the city.

Detective Sergeant Greg Sheehan said neither man was heavily involved
in the drugs operation and were unaware of its extent until the day it
was uncovered following a surveillance operation.

Det Sgt Sheehan told the court the flower pot plants arrived on an
articulated lorry from Holland in what was a well orchestrated drug
smuggling operation.

The lorry was met by a driver of a van who transported the drugs to
the Pineview Road address where they were stored.