YOUTH WHO MOVED DRUG TO BE HELD FOR 6 YEARS

A Dublin youth who was offered IEP100 to move a packet of heroin with
a street value of some IEP350,000 has been sent to six years'
detention by Judge Frank O'Donnell.

John Cunningham (17), Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the heroin for sale or supply
on July 27th, 1998.

Cunningham did not get the promised IEP100 because he had not
completed the mission. The heroin was seized after a chance encounter
with a motorcycle garda.

Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, read Cunningham's statement which said
someone he did not wish to name had offered him IEP100 to move the
package in the Ballyfermot area, from "California Hills" to Rossmore.

Cunningham said he was with a friend. Garda Kieran Nolan, whom he
knew, came along on a motorcycle. He dropped the package which he had
been holding in his left hand.

He had a bottle of beer in his other hand and dropped this also. Garda
Nolan caught him and put him on the ground.

Ms Aileen Donnelly, defending, said her client had used his time in
custody since last July to study for the Junior Certificate. He came
from a decent family who were horrified at the offence.

The St Patrick's Institution authorities had a letter in court
describing him as courteous and well-behaved.

Ms Donnelly said Cunningham accepted he had to pay the penalty for
such a serious offence. He was aware he was collecting drugs but did
not know it was heroin to that value.

Counsel submitted the street value by itself should not warrant an
extra-long custodial sentence. "He was a courier in a minor way," said
Ms Donnelly.