BUSTED | 

Bungling drug dealer with links to gangland target jailed over €417,000 heroin haul

He was described in court by prosecuting member Garda Kerrie Sullivan as being “slightly higher” than the bottom rung of the criminal ladder.

Today at 19:28

A bungling drug dealer caught with a significant amount of heroin for a second time has been jailed for seven years.

Gregory Dunne (39) was arrested following the garda surveillance operation in Dublin’s south-inner city in which almost €420,000 worth of heroin was seized.

He was described in court by prosecuting member Garda Kerrie Sullivan as being “slightly higher” than the bottom rung of the criminal ladder.

A female co-accused, who gardaí believe was ordered to move drugs as part of the criminal enterprise after building up a substantial debt, will be sentenced later this year,

The Sunday World can also reveal that Dunne is considered an associate of gangland target Michael Frazier, who has survived multiple attempts on his life.

In 2017 gardaí intercepted a hit team on the way to target Frazier, while in 2014 he was shot several times in a church car park.

Gregory Dunne was jailed for seven years today after admitting to being in possession of nearly three kilos of heroin for the purpose of sale or supply.

Garda Sullivan, of Kevin Street Garda Station, previously gave evidence of a surveillance operation in place on April 12 last year.

A woman was spotted with a bag at the Lamplighter Pub in Dublin 8 and Dunne was seen putting something into the bag.

The female then hailed a taxi which was intercepted by gardaí and just under 3kg of heroin recovered, with an estimated street value of €417,000.

Gregory Dunne’s home was searched, and he later attended the garda station for interview.

Garda Sullivan agreed with Sean Gillane SC, defending, that Dunne was very cooperative and respectful when interviewed.

She also said that the defendant was “slightly higher” than the lowest rung of the criminal ladder.

Judge Elma Sheahan said she did not need to address the huge impact that heroin causes and the level of damage it leaves at every level of society, including inter-generational damage.

She noted that Garda Sullivan did not believe Dunne was at the top of the criminal ladder and did not display any trappings of wealth.

The aggravating factors were his previous conviction for drugs possession in 2012, when he was jailed for three years after being caught with one kilo of heroin valued at around €140,000.

Judge Sheahan also stated that the seriousness of this offence was a further aggravating factor.

In mitigation, she considered Dunne’s early guilty plea, the fact that he complied with gardaí and that he had previously detoxed successfully.

The judge sentenced him to eight years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended.

Mr Gillane previously said that Dunne was born and raised in the Liberties and has shown himself capable of being a productive member of society and a very positive influence on his 12-year-old son.

The court heard that Dunne has been working for about 20 years and has always been able to provide for himself.

Mr Gillane said his client began abusing tablets shortly after leaving school, progressing to cocaine, before he went into full time residential treatment for 12 months in 2010.

Dunne became clean of drugs but could not dispel his drug debts, counsel said, which is when he got involved in his 2012 conviction.

After serving his sentence he qualified as a gym instructor and has been in a stable relationship since.

Dunne was involved in a very serious road traffic accident in 2018 which “knocked him sideways” said counsel, and he began to take tablets again and found himself back before the courts.