IN one of three cases, Nenagh District Court heard yesterday that 15 kg of clenbuterol, commonly known as "angel dust" was found in a car driven along the Nenagh/Limerick road by a local man.
Liam Maher (61), Knight's Crescent, Nenagh, was arrested by Assistant Garda Commissioner, Mr James McHugh, who was then a detective superintendent investigating angel dust abuses in April, 1992.
Maher, who pleaded guilty to six charges of possession of illegal animal growth promoters, was given a six month suspended sentence on charges arising out of the incident.
Mr McHugh said he was a detective superintendent attached to Garda Headquarters investigating illegal angel dust activities at that time.
He stopped Maher's car on April 10th on the main Limerick/Nenagh Road and in the boot he found 15 kg of powder clenbuterol, known as angel dust. There were liquid substances as well.
He arrested him and took him to Nenagh Garda station. Later that day Maher's home was searched, but nothing was found. However, in a car outside, other banned substances were found.
A house at 11 Sarsfield Street, Nenagh, owned by Maher's son, also yielded more drugs in a cupboard. Six different substances were found.
Mr Declan Holmes, a Department of Agriculture inspector, said the clenbuterol, which had its origins in Argentina, had the highest strength of any seized in the State. He said there was sufficient powder to treat 420 animals for a full course of 30 days.
The haul also included hormone cocktails, liquid clenbuterol known as jungle juice and hormone implant pellets. He valued the consignment at £12,000.
Dr Richard Fogarty said the defendant suffered from heart, bowel and Crohne's disease and had a colostomy. He was on maximum therapy for heart disease and the only thing he could be offered would be a heart transplant. It was a serious condition and without exaggeration he "could pop at any time".
Mr David Sutton BL, for the defence, submitted that there was no evidence Maher had sold or given any animal any of the substances or no evidence that any of it had entered the food chain.
Judge Neilan said Maher had pleaded guilty to what was a watertight case presented by the State. He said the haul involved was "an enormous consignment".
He said he felt the chances of the defendant re offending were nil given the medical evidence. The facts presented were quite disturbing but it would not serve the community if he was locked up for the rest of his days.
He imposed a six month sentence on Maher for possession of clenbuterol but suspended it for two years on condition he entered into a £1,000 bond.
He indicated to Maher that he would release him from this bond at an earlier date if he co-operated with the authorities in disclosing the names and addresses of people who might want to use these substances.
He fined him £200 on each of five other changes of possession of banned substances, and allowed him four months to pay.
Thomas Slattery, Ballinree, Nenagh, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of illegal animal growth promoters at his farm at Ballinree on April 10th, 1992.
Sgt Pat Curran, Nenagh, said that acting on information he went to the farm and searched it. He found a white plastic bag on the top of a freezer containing a hormone cartridge, a hormone implant and packets of yellow powder.
He said the defendant told him the substance had been there since the hormones were legal and he was not using them at present.
Judge Neilan fined Slattery £750 on each charge.
Patrick Reidy (38), Old Road, Carrigatoher, Nenagh, was fined £4,800 on a total of 10 charges relating to the possession and ad ministration of illegal drugs on February 13th, 1995 and possession of animal drugs on May
Mr Denis Deane a Department of Agriculture inspector, said he found drugs and a hormone implant gun in the defendant's car and in his garage on February 13th, 1995.
Twelve animals tested positive, the court was told, and a restriction order was placed on the herd.
Judge Neilan fined the defendant £4,000 in respect of the summonses relating to February 13th, 1995, and £800 in respect of one charge on May 24th. Four other charges were marked proven and taken into consideration.