A FORMER key State witness to a gangland murder in Limerick has been jailed for having cocaine and cannabis for sale just days before Christmas 2011. 24-year-old Erol Ibrahim was sitting in the front seat of a car beside ‘Fat’ Frankie Ryan when Gary Campion leaned between them and shot Ryan dead in September 2006. Last week at Limerick District Court, Ibrahim pleaded guilty to the possession of the drugs for his own use but denied the more serious charge of having the drugs, valued at over €400, for sale or supply.
The court also heard that at the time the search warrant was executed at his home in Cluain Dara, Clonmacken, Ibrahim was in possession of almost €1,400 in cash made up predominantly of €50 notes.
Detective Garda Paul Quirke told the court that a warrant was obtained after they came into “reliable” information regarding the sale and supply of drugs. That warrant was executed on December 21, 2011 and a search revealed the drugs, which Ibrahim said were for his own use, weighing scales and bags.
Ibrahim claimed that “anyone who buys drugs has a scales to make sure they get what they pay for”. He also said that the bags were for his use as he would weigh out small measurements for his own use. He said that the €560 that was found on his person was for Christmas presents. A further €830 was found in an upstairs bedroom and Ibrahim denied that it was the proceeds of drug sales and said it was money from his Christmas club.
Denying he was a drug dealer, Ibrahim questioned the reliable information that the gardai had by saying, “Can you give me a name of someone I sold drugs to? No, you can’t because I didn’t”.
Garda Inspector Seamus Ruane then asked if he could give the name the person he bought the drugs from.
Ibrahim replied “I can’t, that wouldn’t be good for my health”.
Judge O’Kelly said that he was satisfied with the State’s case and that the demeanor of the accused did “nothing to help his case” and sentenced him to six months in prison for possession of cocaine.
A four-month sentence was imposed for the possession of cannabis but that was suspended for a period of 12 months. Ibrahim was also fined €500 for possession of both cocaine and cannabis while a 14 day stay was put on the seizure of the money.
