However, Michael Costello, 29, of St Mary's Park, Rathkeale, has been jailed by Limerick Circuit Court for two years after pleading guilty to possession of j10,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply.

The drugs were discovered by a Garda sniffer dog during a search of Mr Costello's bedroom on May 17, 2008.

Weighing scales and plastic bags were also discovered during the search and Mr Costello admitted bagging the drugs for someone else and receiving quantities of cannabis for his own use as payment.

Det Garda Joseph O'Sullivan said Mr Costello was from a respectable family and local gardai were "very surprised" he had been foolish enough to get involved with drugs.

Mr Costello worked in Dell at the time and his former supervisor gave evidence that he was "in total shock" when he learned about the drugs seizure.

The defendant's father told the court his son had made a huge mistake, but in his opinion "is not likely to reoffend".

John O'Sullivan, BL, defending, urged Judge Carroll Moran to suspend any custodial sentence to allow the defendant to benefit from retraining under the European Globalisation Fund.

However, Judge Moran said that, in the circumstances, he had to impose an immediate sentence.