An Englishman who imported cannabis resin worth £35,000 in a corset strapped to his body has received an eight-year suspended sentence.
Peter Breach was used "as a puppet on a string" by ruthless criminals, Judge Joseph Mathews said at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sgt James Hynes agreed with defence counsel Mr Erwan Mill Arden that the person "in charge" of Breach travelled on the same flight with him from Barcelona and got away on arrival in Dublin.
Breach (37), of Castlewood Avenue, Rathmines, pleaded guilty to importing 3.5 kg of cannabis at Dublin Airport on January 8th, 1997.
Sgt Hynes told prosecuting counsel Mr Des Zaiden that Breach was stopped by Customs officers when he came off the flight from Barcelona. Breach had been recruited in a Dublin pub.
"This was a classic example of how international drugs criminals recruit vulnerable people to act as `mules' for them. The defendant was known to the people who recruited him and had been targeted by them," said Sgt Hynes.
Breach was an English national who had lived in the Republic for 11 years. He had no previous convictions, had honoured his bail at all times, was co-operative with gardai and was unlikely to re-offend.
Mr Mill Arden said Breach was depressed when he was recruited; he had just been told he would be made redundant.
He was also being treated for a medical problem at the time and was alcohol-dependent.
Judge Mathews said Breach's first move into the criminal law area was "a major excursion". Sgt Hynes's fair evidence supporting the man was borne out also in the probation report and in the testimony given by a journalist, Mr Peter Thompson, who proved himself "a true friend".
Normally drug importers were jailed but there were characteristics about this case that warranted an exception.
Judge Mathews said: "I believe this is truly a one-off offence in your life and I sincerely hope that is so. I must give you a severe sentence, but it will be suspended on certain strict conditions".
If Breach failed to abide by one or more of the conditions, he would serve the full eight years.