Aodan Marnell, 34, of Leopardstown Avenue in Stillorgan was jailed for eight years, with the last four suspended, by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.[1] He had pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin worth €625,000 for sale or supply.[1]
Marnell was arrested at a house he was renting on Woodfield Avenue in Inchicore on 9 September 2001.[1] Officers found the resin, then valued at IR£490,000, together with IR£59,000 in cash and drugs paraphernalia including weighing scales.[1]
Holding it for another man
Detective Garda Jim McDermott told the court that gardaí were satisfied Marnell was holding the drugs and cash for another individual and that they did not belong to him.[1] Marnell admitted he was being paid IR£50 for every kilogram he was holding.[1] He had no previous convictions, had co-operated with the investigation and had made a voluntary statement to gardaí.[1]
The man said to be behind the consignment was arrested shortly after Marnell and was later jailed for eight years over two other drugs seizures in Dublin and Donegal.[1] The case against Marnell had been delayed for almost three years through no fault of his, causing him great anxiety.[1]
