Found €250,000 in drugs “under a bush”

A man who told gardai he found over €250,000 in drugs “under a bush” has been jailed for seven years.

When interviewed by gardai, Stuart Simpson (43) also said that he thought someone would claim the drugs but later decided to sell them.

Imposing sentence last Friday, Judge Martin Nolan noted while Simpson fully admitted his own involvement, he didn’t tell gardai where the drugs came from.

Referring to Simpson’s claim that he found the drugs “under a bush”, Judge Nolan said, “We know that is not the case; he got the drugs from someone”.

Garda Lee Keenan told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a large quantity of brown and white powder was found following a search of a property at Shancastle Crescent, Clondalkin, on October  7, 2022.

Mixing bowls, weighing scales, other drug paraphernalia and cannabis were also found during the search.

In total, over 1kg of diamorphine, 300g of cocaine and 20g of cannabis were seized, with a combined value of €259,172.

Simpson of Shancastle Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was arrested by appointment.

During interview, he told gardai that he found the drugs “in a bush”.

He said he didn’t know how to mix the drugs and thought someone would claim them and later decided to sell them.

Gda Keenan told the court, “I don’t believe it to be the case that he found them [the drugs] in a bush”.

Simpson pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. He has 46 previous convictions, including two for drugs offences.

Gda Keenan agreed with Dean Kelly SC, defending, that Simpson was cooperative and made admissions.

He also accepted that Simpson told gardai he was a “wild young man” in his early 20s and that many of his previous convictions date back to this period.

Gda Keenan accepted Mr Kelly’s suggestion that his client was “not a top man, but not at the bottom of the tree” and had no trappings of wealth.

Mr Kelly said his client is aware that he is facing a custodial sentence and instructs there is a “certain reality and pressure to where he lives”.

He said his client’s claim to have found the drugs under a bush “can’t be put aside” but is “not a fundamental dishonesty”.

He said Simpson is married, and his wife, who was in court to support him, has had some health difficulties.

Simpson also supports his father, who is experiencing ill health.

Mr Kelly asked the court to take into consideration when imposing a sentence, the difficulties that his client’s absence will cause for his family and children.

Judge Nolan said Simpson showed no “great signs of wealth”, and it could be inferred that “a lot of the profit from the drug dealing was going elsewhere”.

He said Simpson was “not at the low end of drug dealing” enterprise, and while he was “not going to make too much money”, he was an “essential cog” at the “low mid or middle” level.