A bodybuilder who was caught with anabolic steroids and tanning products worth €10,000 has appeared in court.
Gardai raided the home of Francis McAleavey of Church View Street, St Johnston, Co Donegal on March 9th, 2017.
The accused man, who was a bodybuilder at the time, was not at home.
However, more than 8,000 substances including vials, powders and tablets were uncovered in the raid.
A legal representative for the Health Products Regulatory Authority said the premises which was raided was a domestic dwelling but which was being used as a distribution outlet.
He said a number of the products were anabolic steroids but another was also used for self-tanning.
The court heard that McAleavey, now aged 33, pleaded guilty from an early stage.
Solicitor Ciaran Mac Lochlainn said his client started bodybuilding in 2014 in “the quest for the perfect body.”
Mr Mac Lochlainn said “Anybody can buy these things on the internet. Believe it or not but this is part of the sport.
“It is not really regulated and he was only a bit player. He had no idea he was breaking the law.
“When I asked him the value he said it was more than €5,000 so to hear the real value today is quite a shock.
“I’m told that the country is awash with the stuff but that the authorities are taking a grip on it.
“My client has stopped bodybuilding and has moved away from the sport altogether.”
The court was told that to analyse the various substances for identification and then to dispose of them cost in the region of €6,500 for the work carried out by the State Laboratory.
Judge Paul Kelly said whatever the argument over the valuation of the products found was the actual amount of “substantial.”
He said “Eight thousand items is a substantial amount and it is clear that this was being done on some scale.”
He fined McAleavey a total of €750 on three of the nine charges and took the other charges into consideration.
He added there was no point in making an expenses order as it was not realistic to expect the accused to pay €6,500.