A young man who stored cocaine worth nearly €200,000 after running up a debt has been given a seven-year sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
However, the judge suspended the final four years on strict conditions.
James Hegney (19) told gardaí he had run up the debt with a criminal gang after giving a drugs cache to the wrong person. Hegney, of Sycamore Road, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine on November 7th, 2008.
Judge McCartan said the court must address “the problem of the proliferation of life and soul-destroying drugs which are simply awash in our community and causing havoc”.