A CARLOW man who was caught with amphetamine Powder he imported from Holland has been given a three year suspended sentence.
Martin O'Brien (33), from Kilree Crossing, Bagenalstown, had been told by his mother that he was not welcome in the family home, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.
Det Garda Jerome Twomey said that O'Brien had admitted importing the amphetamine from Holland, where he first encountered it. He was satisfied that O'Brien was not a courier, but had acted independently, he told Mr Bruce Antoniotti, prosecuting.
Garda Twomey said that he had observed O'Brien concealing 15 amphetamine deals in his car boot outside the UFO Club on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin on November 19th, 1995. More drugs were found in a Ranelagh flat in which he was staying.
O Brien had also been jailed for seven months by Waterford District Court for unlawful possession of amphetamine for sale and had used his time in prison well, Garda Twomey added.
When he arrested him originally, his appearance had been very rough. It seemed he had not slept much for some time, but he looked quite alert, possibly due to using amphetamine.
Garda Twomey agreed with Mr Hugh Hartnett, defending, that O'Brien had had a good work record before going to Holland. He came from a respectable family.
When Mr Hartnett observed that his client had learned his lesson in jail and remained off drugs while serving the seven month Waterford sentence, Judge Cyril Kelly noted: "That's an amazing commentary on our prisons."
Judge Kelly imposed a three year suspended sentence dating from the start of the seven month sentence. He directed that O'Brien report his address within 48 hours of contacting the probation service in whatever area he went to live and ordered him to remain under supervision.