MAN 'INVESTED' COMPENSATION IN DEALING

A man who "invested" part of his accident compensation award in becoming a
drug-dealer was given a five-year suspended sentence by Judge Frank
O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Frank Hughes had a "very active" but short drug-dealing career in the north
Dublin suburbs of Donneycarney and Kilbarrack when he was caught, the court
was told by Det Garda Ambrose Whitty.

Judge O'Donnell ordered almost £5,000 Hughes still had from his award
should be paid to the St Vincent de Paul Society. A further £1,080 which he
admitted was the proceeds of drug-dealing was confiscated by the State.

Hughes (21), a fitter, pleaded guilty to having cannabis resin for sale or
supply at his home on Tonlagee Road, Edenmore, on April 26th, 1997.

Det Garda Whitty told Ms Isobel Kennedy, prosecuting, surveillance was
placed on Hughes's home as a result of information. Hughes was seen leaving
his home in his car with his two-year-old son at about 7.10 p.m. on April
26th, 1997, and was stopped a short distance away.

Gardai found a small amount of cannabis under the dashboard and returned
with Hughes to search his house. He told gardai cannabis would be found in
a kitchen press. A scales was also found.

Gardai also found £5,485 in cash upstairs. A money box was buried in the
garden. Hughes made a statement in which he said he had been dealing drugs
for about six weeks.

Det Garda Whitty told Mr Michael O'Higgins, defending, his information
would suggest Hughes was dealing drugs for a little longer than six weeks.

He agreed £6,000 in Hughes's building society account represented his civil
award and some £1,080 of the money found in the house was from drug-dealing.

Det Garda Whitty further agreed with Mr O'Higgins Hughes had used some of
his civil award to buy cannabis.

Mr O'Higgins told Judge O'Donnell his client did not seek the return of any
of the money found by the gardai in his house. He admitted £1,080 was drugs
money but he was willing the balance could be paid out to some good cause
if the court directed.

Judge O'Donnell said he would deal with Hughes on the basis he had no
previous convictions and had a job. The probation report was also
favourable and Garda Whitty had said Hughes had ended his association with
people who led him into using cocaine.

"I want to make it clear, in case of any misunderstanding, that people
cannot come into court and buy their way out of prison for drug-dealing or
any other offence. I will review this case again on March 5th, 1999, and
his behaviour in the meantime will decide if he remains out of prison."