DRUG DEALER SENT DOWN FOR 12 YEARS

A MAN described as one of the biggest drug dealers in the south-east was
yesterday jailed for 12 years.

Judge Pat McCartan said Anthony McEnery (31) was engaged in a drugs retail
operation that was varied and substantial.

The judge said McEnery was a major contributor to a drugs problem that
plagued Waterford city where 50 offenders were apprehended last year and a
special Garda Drugs Unit had been set up to combat the problem.

McEnery, a carpenter, was found guilty by a jury last month on four charges
of possession of cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis for sale and
supply on August 9, 1996.

Waterford Circuit Court was told that when gardai raided McEnery's flat in
Canada Square, Waterford, they seized 25 ecstasy tablets, 43.5 grammes of
cocaine, 18 grammes of cannabis resin and 3.25 grammes of amphetamine. The
drugs had a street value of IEP8,500.

Big Supplier

Det Sergt Terry Butler said McEnery was one of the two biggest drug
suppliers in Munster and south Leinster.

Barrister Niall Durkan, defending, said the amount of drugs involved was
not massive and not in the region of some of the recent seizures.

McEnery was a tradesman who was now back in full-time employment which was
unusual for a person in his position, he said.

But Judge McCartan said the accused was a talented tradesman who engaged in
drug dealing out of greed with total disregard for the lives of the young
people to whom he sold drugs.

In his defence, McEnery claimed the drugs had been planted in his flat by
the gardai. The judge said that was a serious allegation against hard
working members of the Garda. It still stood and even at this late stage it
had not been detracted. It was a dishonest and perjurious conspiracy but
the jury saw behind it.

Judge McCartan said the sentence was the minimum the court could impose. He
refused leave to appeal against conviction and sentence and made an order
for the destruction of the drugs and the confiscation of money seized in
the raid.

The court heard that the accused was not married but for the past five
years he had been living with his girlfriend who was supportive of him and
was now three months pregnant. When she heard the sentence pronounced she
ran from the court in tears.

Since the death of the accused's father, he had been a major support to his
mother who has a heart condition.

Defence urged that part of the sentence be suspended. He said the accused
would then be under the watchful eye of the court. But Judge McCartan said
It was not the function of the court to keep a eye on somebody of his
deviousness.