PORTUMNA MAN JAILED FOR 6 YEARS FOR DRUG POSESSION

Date Published: 03-Jun-2008

A Portumna man has been given a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to having over 9,500 Ecstasy tablets in his possession which were for sale or supply to others32 year old John Briscoe of no.1 Mingban, Ballycrissaune, Portumna appeared before Galway District CourtHe was found at his home with the drugs on July 16, 2006 and they had a street value of over €96,000 euroBriscoe's co-accused, 24 year old Philip O’Dwyer of Ballykeeland Road, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary was sentenced to nine months.He pleaded guilty to being found in possession of 195 Ecstasy tablets, worth €1950, at the same address, on the same date which were for sale or supply to another.Both men were described as being recreational drugs users and the court was told O’Dwyer was no longer taking drugs.Mr. Bernard Madden, SC, for Briscoe, said his client was at the lower end of the drug hierarchy and could not name the person he was holding the drugs for out of fear for his own safety.The court heard Briscoe is an unemployed tiler with no previous convictions for drug offences.