Date Published: 02-May-2008

Nine Galway men have been convicted and sentenced for drug-dealing under Operation Scarf.

The men were among thirteen people arrested in dawn raids at a house in the city in late May last year.

30 year old Jonathan King, of 61 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska was convicted of drug dealing and given 12 months in prison.

28 year old David Kenny, of 14 Walter Macken Flats, Mervue, received 16 months for having cocaine and Ecstasy for sale or supply to the undercover gardai at Sally Longs and at Mervue Church grounds on two dates in March 2007, and to having cannabis in his possession on May 30.

26 year old Richard Dalton of 115 Corrib Park received 18-months for selling Ecstasy on one occasion and cocaine on two other occasions to the undercover gardai on three dates in March last year.

33 year old Gavin Rowe of 29 Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane, received sentences totalling 18 months for selling cocaine to the gardai on three separate dates in February, March and April last year.

38 year old Brian Counihan of Baranna, Annaghdown, was jailed for 20 months for supplying heroin to the gardai on four separate dates in January and February of last year.

Counihan was also disqualified from driving for twelve months for using his van in the commission of the crime.

37 year old Jason Golding of 37 Innishannagh Park, Newcastle was jailed for 20 months.

39 year old Stephen Keary of 11 Ballybrit Cottages pleaded guilty to four charges of supplying heroin and was jailed for 21 months.

29 year old Eddie Sweeney, formerly of 2 St. Finbar’s Terrace, Bohermore, was jailed for 14 months
for supplying the gardai with cannabis at the taxi rank in Eyre Square on January 15 last year, and to supplying them with cocaine at The Central Bar, Woodquay, four days later.

26 year old J.P. “Ba Ba” Flaherty of 25 Barry Avenue, Mervue, was given an 8-month sentence for
handing over heroin to the gardai near the shops in Old Mervue.

Judge Mary Fahy issued a bench warrant for the arrest of 52 year old Patrick Morton with an address at the time of his arrest in May 2007, at 94 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska after he failed to appear in
court on Wednesday.

Two others, a man and a woman, were dealt with late last year by the courts in relation to prosecutions brought under “Operation Scarf” while a bench warrant was issued at a court sitting earlier last year for a thirteenth accused, who’s still at large.