Two years jail for men caught dealing drugs from a tent in park

Two men caught dealing drugs from a tent in a public park have been jailed for two years each, reports Declan Brennan.

Gardai carrying out an ongoing operation to disrupt concerns about drug dealing at Grand Canal banks in Clondalkin, found the tent on April 3, 2020, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Garda Ciaran O’Neill told Simon Matthews BL, prosecuting, that gardai placed the area under surveillance and observed one man arriving on a motorbike with a package. They followed him into a field and saw the tent.

Three men ran off but were chased and caught by gardai. The tent was searched and heroin with an estimated street value of around €15,000 was found.

Gardai also seized cocaine valued at €4,150, cannabis valued at €13,267 and €40 worth of Diazepam tablets.

Gary Lawlor (24) of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght and Sean Greene (20) of Lealand Drive, Clondalkin, were charged with possession for sale or supply of drugs with a value greater than €13,000. Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced on Wednesday, January 26. The court heard that Greene’s ten previous convictions include assault, burglary and possession of drugs, while Lawlor also has previous convictions for possession of drugs. Neither defendant have any previous convictions for drug dealing. Their defence counsel told the court that both men were drug addicts and were vulnerable and were at the bottom rung of the drugs trade.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced both men to two years. A third person caught in the operation is due for sentence next month.