Clinton Byrne jailed for heroin supply offence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Clinton Byrne was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed the sentence for possessing more than €280,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply. The report also records a guilty plea to possessing cannabis worth €142.

The heroin was seized after gardai found Byrne outside a house in Milford Manor, Station Road, Clondalkin, on April 26, 2023. The report said the total street value was €280,630, with cash and a weighing scale also found.

Byrne told gardai he was only holding the drugs for a few hours and described the incident as an effing set-up. His defence said there was no suggestion he had any management role, and that accumulated debts had fuelled his involvement.

Judge Sheahan identified the early guilty plea, cooperation upon arrest, non-drug-related previous convictions and Byrne’s level of offending as mitigating factors. The proceedings were reported on 19 December 2023.