A 25-year-old man who allowed his Belfast home to be used as a "mail-drop" for drug dealers, was freed on two years probation today after agreeing to carry out community service.
Belfast Crown Court Judge McCaffrey told John Gerard Murphy that he was being "given a chance", but that "society would be better served" if allowed the opportunity of addressing his own addiction problems, while at the same time putting something back into the community.
Murphy, of Irwell Court, pleaded guilty to attempting to supply the Class C drug Diazepam, possession of the drug and cultivating cannabis in September 2014.
Prosecution barrister Gareth Purvis told an earlier hearing that on September 9 2014, police intercepted more than 33,500 of the tablets in 450 packets at Belfast's Tomb Street, postal sorting office.
The drugs, with a street vaule of up to £17,000 were addressed to Murphy's home.
The lawyer said that 10 days later police uncovered a further 1,700 Diazepam tablets in a planned search of Murphy's home, together with four cannabis plants, which were in a poor condition.
Mr Purvis said it was accepted that Murphy's home "was being used as a mail-drop for more sinister planners" for which he was being paid a small amount of money.
Defence barrister Barry Gibson described Murphy as a young man who was somewhat socially isolated, partly disabled, and the mistaken victim of a punishment shooting, which eventually led to him falling in with bad company.
The defence lawyer added that it was accepted Murphy "was used a mail-drop for a small amount of cash, or payment in kind".
