Tallaght DJ caught with over €600k worth of drugs

By Sonya McClean

A DJ who claimed he was the “runner” in a drugs operation will be sentenced next month after he was caught with various narcotics worth over €600,000.

Derek Mulligan (43) said he owed €30,000 and claimed he had been told he would get €500 knocked off his debt if he agreed to hold and deliver various amounts of cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, mixing agents and other prescription medication.

“I was dancing to their tune and had to do what they said. I was not in a position to say no,” Mulligan told interviewing gardaí.

He said it was a vicious circle he was trying to get out of. 

Mulligan was initially caught with just under €20,000 worth of cannabis herb in his car after gardaí spotted him breaking a red light at Tyrrellstown in Dublin.

A follow-up search of his home revealed another stash of €592,471 worth of various drugs, including €495,000 worth of cocaine; cannabis resin, ecstasy, other prescription drugs and mixing agents.

Mulligan, of Bancroft Avenue, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on February 5, 2014. His two previous convictions are for drugs and firearm offences.

Judge Melanie Greally said she needed time to consider the case and remanded Mulligan on continuing bail to December 2, next.

The cannabis herb was found in the footwell of the Ford Mondeo that Mulligan was driving when gardaí approached him at Chapelwood Avenue in Hollystown. They had followed him after spotting him breaking a red light minutes earlier.

Mulligan claimed he had been given instructions to meet a man at the Blanchardstown Town Centre. This man got into his car and left the bag before he was directed to drive to the housing estate opposite Hollystown Golf Club.

He claimed that €1,700 in cash he had with him at the time was for his rent and utility bills. He denied the cash was “drug money”.

Garda Nicola Duffy told Monika Leech BL, prosecuting that the drugs were discovered in various different locations in Mulligan’s home and the gardens around it.

Mulligan took respons-ibility and said the cocaine had been left in his house a couple of months previously. He said he was the “runner” in the operation and would regularly receive instructions to do a drop.

He said he believed he had done a “total of 10 drops” and that he often had to weigh and bag the drugs before delivering them.

Garda Duffy agreed with Giollaíosa O’Lideadha SC, defending that Mulligan co-operated with the garda investigation. She accepted that he was working as a DJ at the time of his arrest.

Mr Ó Lideadha asked Judge Greally to accept that Mulligan was under “serious threat” at the time.

He said although he took responsibility for the drugs he was afraid to name others involved.

Mr Ó Lideadha said his client had “a significant but limited role” and said he was a carer for his elderly parents.