McNally helped other addicts before relapsing into old habit
ALAN McNally was not your usual dealer. He had managed to wean himself off a crippling drug habit in 2001, and he set about helping other addicts.
But he fell into difficulties because of financial and support problems incurred in his voluntary work with drug users, and he agreed to carry heroin over a drugs debt to a criminal he feared.
He was sentenced before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2008 on a charge of possession of heroin worth almost €200,000.
His trial heard he had managed an aftercare programme for addicts after completing a drug intervention and counselling course, but relapsed into addiction in 2006. Four of the people he helped were in court to support him.
Judge Tony Hunt said McNally got himself clean despite battling addiction, but he fell back into drug use after he took on too much work without significant support.
He was sentenced to seven and a half years with the final two and half suspended.
- Colm Kelpie
Irish Independent
