A former Co Monaghan and Ulster GAA star, Gerry McCarville, was one of two Co Monaghan men facing jail on "angel dust" offences at Monaghan Circuit Court.
McCarville (40), of Tydavenet, Co Monaghan, a supplier of agricultural pharmaceutical products, and Neville Reid (37), a farmer, of Glaslough, Co Monaghan, were convicted last February with three other Co Monaghan men of "angel dust" offences. Both McCarville and Reid were jailed for three months.
At an appeal this week, Judge Matt Deery said he would suspend the jail terms on condition that the men each lodged £10,000 in the court to be donated to the ISPCC. Both agreed to the condition and were released.
Judge Deery said in his summing up: "This is an opportunity for both gentlemen to do something which will be of benefit to the community."