A 36-year-old Belfast man who was unwittingly involved in supplying heroin to undercover police posing as drug users was today (Monday) handed a 42-month prison sentence.
Ciaran Gerard Toner, of King Street, Belfast, was told he will spend half the sentence in prison, with the remaining 21-months on licence upon his release, after he admitted a string of drugs offences.
Also appearing in the dock of Belfast Crown Court was his former girlfriend Fionnuala Braniff, who also admitted supplying the Class A drug to the undercover officers on several occasions last January and February.
The court heard the 26-year-old, of New Barnsley Drive, Belfast, did not gain financially from her role but was doing it “simply to fund her own habit”.
Judge Gordon Kerr QC handed Braniff an 18-month sentence, which was deferred for six months.
At a previous hearing, a Crown prosecutor said a police operation was launched in a bid to investigate the illegal supply of heroin at street level in Belfast.
On January 20th, 2014, Toner was contacted by an undercover officer posing as a heroin user, and he agreed to meet the caller and sell a £25 (about €35) wrap of the drug.
The following day, a similar call was made to Toner, and on this occasion the officer met Braniff, who handed over a £25 wrap.
This same arrangement occurred on several other occasions over the next few weeks.
On April 2nd, 2014, Toner’s flat was searched by police. During the search drugs paraphernalia were found, including a bong.
Toner and Braniff were arrested, and when Toner was shown CCTV footage of the drug deals he accepted involvement.
Toner also admitted using Braniff to supply heroin to the undercover officers, while she said when interviewed that she “ran errands” for Toner.
‘No evidence of profit’
The Crown prosecutor said there was “no evidence of a significant profit being made, or an extravagant lifestyle”, and that it was accepted Braniff made no money from her involvement. The barrister also revealed that Toner had previous convictions for drugs offences.
Toner was further charged with offences dating back to November 2013, which involved importing heroin across the border from Dublin to Belfast.
A defence barrister acting for Toner said his client came under the influence of “negative peers” at an early age, and started taking drugs when he was aged 13.
The barrister said that since his time on remand in prison, Toner was now working to address his long-standing drug addiction, and was “finished with heroin . . . he never wants to see it again, never mind use it”.
Regarding Toner, the barrister described him as a “middle man” who was selling drugs to fund his own habit.
Braniff’s barrister said the only benefit she gained from the offences was “being able to obtain heroin for herself”.
The barrister spoke of Braniff’s mental health difficulties, adding that since her arrest last year Braniff has been “striving to overcome her addiction to drugs, and look after her son”.
He also said she came before the court with no previous convictions, and had expressed remorse for her actions.
Sentencing the pair, the judge jailed Toner while he deferred Braniff’s 18-month sentence for six months.