HEROIN DEALERS JAILED FOR SIX AND 10 YEARS

A major Garda surveillance operation, which included a stakeout in
Barna Sningan Woods in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, yesterday resulted in
two drug-dealers being jailed for 10 years and six years.

Eamonn Hargan (32) of Beechwood Park, Delgany, Co Wicklow, and Kenneth
Flynn (41) of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Co Dublin, both pleaded
guilty to the possession of heroin for sale and supply.

The surveillance took place in January 1997 when gardai watched Hargan
digging up a glass jar containing heroin; the two men were apprehended
and Flynn showed them a second jar. The total street value was more
than IEP70,000.

The head of the Divisional Drugs Unit in Dun Laoghaire, Sgt William
Wyldes, told the court of Hargan's wealthy lifestyle, which included a
house in Delgany costing IEP67,000, IEP15,000 of which came from
drug-dealing.

The court heard both men are heroin addicts. Hargan progressed from
being an addict to a pusher, to importing the drugs from England using
couriers to bring them in in beer cans.

Flynn was one of his couriers and was paid in drugs.

Sgt Wyldes said Hargan was the major heroin supplier in the Bray and
Dun Laoghaire areas and would have been responsible for the drug
problem in Bray up to May 1997.

No one had taken over since then, and individuals were buying a gram
or two in Dublin and selling it in their own area. Since Hargan's
arrest, the number of people involved in heroin had been considerably
reduced, he said.

Mr Rex Mackey SC, for Hargan, said his client had joined the French
Foreign Legion in Paris and spent four and a half years with them,
when he received a medal of honour for his services in Tahiti. He said
Hargan's children were not aware their father was a drug dealer.

Judge Raymond Groarke said Hargan was the brains behind the operation
and Flynn was a courier. Judge Groarke sentenced Hargan to 10 years
and said he would not be reviewing his sentence.

Flynn was sentenced to six years with a review after three years and
suspension of the balance if he is drug-free.

He said there was a considerable difference between the two men and he
would review Flynn's sentence because it was his view that he should
hold out some hope for him.

The Criminal Assets Bureau has frozen Hargan's assets.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry