A Co Wicklow resident who was paid €60 to hold nearly half a million euro worth of heroin has been sentenced to seven years in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Matthew Leyden (21), The Walk, Downshire Park, Blessington, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply on February 17th, 2011. He has no previous convictions.
Garda Donal O’Sullivan told Kerida Naidoo, prosecuting, that Leyden was on the dole and in debt for a car loan when a man offered to pay him €200 a week to store the drugs in his house.
Leyden said he had only been paid €60 so far. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to seven years in jail but suspended the final three years on condition that he liaises with the Probation Service upon his release.