Five are charged in city drugs blitz

Aaron Duff

By Andrew Phelan

FOUR men and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested as part of a major crackdown on drug dealing in inner city Dublin.

The five appeared in court charged with the sale or supply of PVP following the garda operation, codenamed 'Hesitate'.

Dublin District Court heard one of the accused men was allegedly caught "red-handed" three times selling the drug to undercover gardai near a school.

Sean Moynihan (23), Neil Brazil (22), Dean O'Toole (19) and Aaron Duff (18) all appeared before the district court charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Mr O'Toole and Mr Duff were both remanded on bail, while Judge Grainne O'Neill refused bail in Mr Moynihan and Mr Brazil's cases.

Mr O'Toole (inset), of Rutland Court, Dublin 1, is charged with possession of PVP for sale or supply at St Mary's Mansions, Dublin 1 on September 22.

POSSESSION

Mr Duff, of Don Bosco House, Blessington Street is charged with the same offence at Gloucester Diamond on August 14.

Mr Moynihan, of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1 is charged with possession of PVP with intent to sell or supply at St Mary Mansions on September 18. Mr Brazil, of Richmond Hall Apartments is charged with the same offence at St Mary's Mansions on September 18, 24 and 26.

Prosecuting gardai said the accused were arrested and charged. Objecting to bail in Mr Brazil's case, a garda said it was alleged that he was caught "red-handed" selling PVP to undercover gardai "in close proximity to a school."

It was alleged Mr Moynihan also sold PVP to an undercover garda.

Both men enjoyed a presumption of innocence and were prepared to abide by bail conditions, lawyers said.

Judge O'Neill refused both defendants' bail. There were no Garda objections to bail for Mr O'Toole and Mr Duff.

Judge O'Neill granted bail on condition that they stay out of St Mary's Mansions and the surrounding area, as well as the IDA Small Business Centre, Summerhill.

The two defendants must also observe a curfew and have no contact with their co-accused or three other named men.

The 16-year-old was remanded on bail at the Children's Court.

Accompanied by family members, the court heard the teen had "no reply" when charged with drug dealing.

hnews@herald.ie