A FORMER professional soccer player whose brother has played for Ireland has been jailed for three years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug supplying.
Declan O'Brien (29), of Prussia Street, Dublin, admitted having two "soapbars" of cannabis for supply on February 2nd, 1995.
He also pleaded guilty to handling a weighing scales the property of Irish Glass Bottle Co Ltd where he was employed as a fitter. O'Brien also admitted having 1 1/2 tablets of ecstasy for his own use. He had no previous convictions.
Det Garda Thomas Madden told Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, that O'Brien was arrested as a result of a surveillance operation by the Drugs Squad at his home. He claimed in a statement that he earned £100-£15O selling cannabis to work-mates at Irish Glass.
Judge Gerard Buchanan said not only had O'Brien to be punished but he had to be seen to be punished for his involvement in a trade which bad such dire consequences for people. O'Brien's counsel, Mr Shane Murphy, had made a very eloquent plea for him on a charge that carried a maximum life sentence, he said.
The court was told that the defendant's brother, Mr Liam O'Brien, was an Irish international soccer player. The defendant had also played professionally for a time in England and was a fully-qualified fitter with an earning capacity of £500 a week with Irish Glass. He was now a taxi-driver.
Det Garda Madden said the street value of the drugs was about £5,500. The scales had been reported stolen by Irish Glass which had dismissed O'Brien for that and other reasons.
When asked by Mr Foley if there had been a series of industrial accidents in the plant, Mr Murphy objected. He said there was nothing in the prosecution case to justify the question.