A Scotsman who said he became involved in a £2 million heroin operation because of a row with his Dublin girlfriend has been jailed for three years and is to be deported when he is released.
Robert Christie (54), of no fixed address, was on licence for some months from an English 15 years' armed robbery sentence when gardai found five kgs of heroin in a wardrobe at the Sunnybank Hotel, Glasnevin on March 18th. He had 19 previous convictions.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that two more kilos were found in the adjoining bedroom and £82,000 cash was also recovered. Sgt Stephen Courage said the gardai were waiting in the two adjoining rooms when Christie and another man arrived back.
The second man, Anthony McGrath (48), from Dublin and with an address at Parkmore Close, Woodford Green, Essex, imported the heroin.
Judge Dunne jailed McGrath for eight years in October. He was previously jailed for 10 years for importing cannabis into England. She backdated Christie's sentence to March 18th and suspended the final two years.
Christie pleaded guilty to possession of the heroin for supply on March 18th, while McGrath pleaded guilty to importing seven kgs of heroin on the same date.
Sgt Courage told prosecuting counsel Mr Paul O'Higgins SC that Christie made a statement in which he said McGrath contacted him in London on March 16th and suggested they go to Ireland for St Patrick's Day.
Christie decided he would go in order to see his girlfriend. However, they had a row and he could not stay in her flat. He contacted McGrath who suggested they book rooms in the Sunnybank Hotel for March 18th. McGrath asked him to put a hold-all bag in his wardrobe and offered him £500 for that service.
Christie admitted he realised there was something illegal involved.