A CHRONIC heroin addict who hid over €4,000 worth of drugs up his back passage when he saw gardai approaching the vehicle he was in has been jailed for nine months. Noel Franklin (25) of Pinegrove, Raheen, was a front seat passenger in a car driven on O’Callaghan’s Strand on February 25, 2012 when he was spotted by a detective from the divisional drug squad.
Detective Garda Dave Baynham told Limerick District Court that when he signaled the driver to stop, he failed to do so. He then saw Noel Franklin lean over and “conceal something up his back passage”.
He was arrested and detained at Henry Street Garda Station and after 23 hours, he passed a package containing €4,120 worth of diamorphine.
Defending solicitor John Devane said his client was a chronic heroin addict who “didn’t have the greatest start in life and entered the criminal system at an early age.” He had 102 previous convictions and was currently serving a prison sentence.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said that he was giving credit for the early plea but noted that Mr Franklin “made quite an effort to conceal the drugs”.
Imposing the nine month term of imprisonment, Judge O’Kelly said that he could have received a considerably longer prison sentence at the Circuit Court given the “significant quantity and type of drug involved”.
Above: Judge Eugene O’Kelly.
