This article is from page 17 of the 2007-07-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A MAN who “elaborately” concealed four bars of cannabis resin under the seat of his car has been jailed for 18 months.
Fintan Shanagher (39), of Kilna- soolagh Park, Newmarket-on-Fer- gus, was “merely delivering” the drugs, valued at almost €7,000, when he was caught by Clare gardai last year.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply.
Detective Garda Seamus McMa- hon told Ennis Circuit Court yes- terday that the accused was stopped and searched at the Carrigoran inter- change on May 5 2006.
He said a kilo of cannabis resin was found in the car and was “extremely well concealed,’ underneath the rear seat of the car.
Shanagher told gardai he had hand-
ed over €2,000 cash in Limerick for Some MUESaCE
The money was not his own, it was belonging to three people who had pooled together and Shanagher didn’t have any financial stake in it.
‘He was merely delivering the bars. They were to be handed over in Quin village the following day because it was ‘out of the way’,” said the garda.
Defending barrister Michael Fitz- gibbon said “at all stages he was car-
rying these drugs for third parties.”
‘He very foolishly got involved in the wrong sort of people.
He is not part of a drug ring or a eroup of people involved in moving era bneacmr-uOlUb ALOE
“He got involved on this one occa- sion rather foolishly and got caught,” he said.
Judge Carroll Moran said the mat- ter was “most serious.”
“The drugs were very elaborately
concealed in the car. It shows a level of premeditation.
Couriers of drugs, while they are at a much lower level than those deal- ing the drugs, are an essential cog in the business,’ he said.
He took into account the fact that Shanagher had pleaded guilty and imposed a two-year jail term.
He reduced this to 18 months, be- cause of the accused’s previous good record.