A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, with four suspended, for his part in the trafficking of over €5m worth of cannabis.
Gardaí acting on a tip off arrested 32-year-old Philip Breen, from Sheepmoor Avenue in Blanchardstown, while he was loading cannabis into a van at a house in Carberry, Co Kildare in 2005.
He is one of three men who was convicted at Naas Circuit Court in connected with the haul this
Judge Michael White heard that when arrested, Mr Breen immediately admitted he was about to deliver part of the drugs consignment to a Dublin source.
The court heard over 700kg of drugs came into Ireland through Rosslare from the continent, hidden in a 40ft trailer three days previously.
Breen said he was living in fear after the arrest and the court was told he had been shot up to six times as he lay in bed last August and was very fortunate to be alive.
Passing sentence Judge White said the aggravating factor in this case was the size of the drugs shipment and its value.
