Galway heroin dealer tried to swallow bags

Gardaí called to a city hostel, to remove a heroin dealer from the premises, had to intervene when he tried to swallow the bag containing the drugs, Galway District Court has heard.

In imposing a six-month sentence on the Lithuanian national, Judge Gráinne O’Neill had considered the suggestion that the defendant be given a suspended prison term on condition that he leaves the country.

Michail Griogorasciuk (35), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to impeding Gardaí in the exercise of their duties, with having heroin for sale or supply, and with being in possession of the drug on three separate dates.

Inspector Mick O’Dwyer told the court hat Garda Lena Walsh was called to Sleepzone, Bóthar na mBán, on March 18, to assist in the removal of the defendant from the building.

“On entering, he was lying on a bed, and after she introduced herself, he started chewing a bag,” he said.

“He spat it out, and it contained a brown substance which she believed to be heroin. He said it was his.”

Nearly a month later, on April 16, the father of three was observed on the grounds of NUIG “involved in drug dealing with known heroin users.”

Inspector O’Dwyer said that he was found in possession of two bags of heroin, worth €60, which he had again attempted to swallow.

Nine days later, on the afternoon of April 25, he was searched on St Brendan’s Avenue.

“They attempted to search him, but he attempted to obstruct by swallowing the heroin – six bags were produced from his mouth,” he said, adding that Griogarasciuk had no previous convictions.

His solicitor, Adrian MacLynn, told the court that the heroin addict had been in Ireland since February.

“He met with certain people in Vilnius, who offered employment in the UK – he didn’t look into the background, and didn’t guess that there was criminality involved,” he said.

“The plans changed, and he ended up in Ireland. He found himself under the control of an organisation – they had complete control of him for the purpose of selling heroin.

“He was taking orders to collect heroin, to arrange to meet people, collect the money, and return the money to the suppliers.”

Describing heroin as a “scourge” on society, the Judge imposed a six month sentence for the offence at NUIG, which was backdated to the time of his detention on April 25. The other matters were take into account.