A Dublin man has been given a suspended sentence for possessing £85,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis in his workplace.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne gave Michael Hanley a three-year suspended sentence and directed him to carry out 240 hours' community service in lieu of three years' imprisonment. She said if the offences had occurred late last year, he could have been jailed for a minimum of 10 years.
Hanley (20), Artane Cottages, Artane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs with intent to supply on November 27th, 1997.
Det Sgt Greg Sheehan said Hanley had stored the drugs in his motorcycle repair shop in Artane where his uncle worked. A Garda sniffer dog found £45,000 worth of cannabis and £40,000 of cocaine in cardboard boxes there.
Judge Dunne described the case as unusual but said she had to consider the time passed since the offence and the fact that Hanley had expressed remorse.
