“Diligent” and “hardworking” electrician avoids jail for drug possession

By Claire Henry

A “diligent” and “hardworking” electrician has been given a suspended sentence for possession of nearly €60,000 worth of drugs.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Sam Collins (30) of Kilcross Drive, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on August 26, 2023, at Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin. He has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said Collins “behaved suspiciously, and his car was searched”. He noted that the mitigation in the case was Collin’s early guilty plea, his good work history and his lack of previous convictions. He said it was very unlikely he will reoffend in any great way in the future.

Judge Nolan said this offending fell in the lower mid-range of drugs that this court deals with. He said he believed he could deviate from the mandatory minimum of 10 years due to the early guilty plea and Collins’ lack of previous convictions.

Defence counsel said Collins was suffering from mental health problems at the time of the offending and that his level of involvement was low. The court heard that Collins was storing the drugs for a third party.

Judge Nolan said he believed that this case fell into the “exceptional circumstance range” and he sentenced Collins to four and a half years in prison, which he suspended in full.

Garda Aaron Wilson told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that he was on mobile patrol on the day in question when he saw a car parked in a loading bay and a man walking towards it. He pulled the patrol car behind the car and activated the blue lights. The man ran away and Collins, who was driving the car, attempted to drive away but was blocked by the patrol car.

The court heard that the car was searched, and drugs worth €1,250 were found. Collins was identified, arrested and brought to the garda station for questioning. A search warrant for his home was obtained and then searched. A larger quantity of drugs were found in the home. The total value of drugs seized was €58,879.

Gda Wilson agreed with Tony McGillicuddy SC, defending, that his client has not come to the attention of the gardai since this incident. He said that while his client was in garda custody, he became concerned for his mental health, and a doctor was contacted.

The garda agreed with counsel that Collins took full responsibility for the drugs found and agreed that he is a hard-working electrician from a good family.

Mr McGillicuddy handed an extensive booklet of letters into the court, which described his client as “hardworking, diligent, and highly regarded”. A letter stating that Collins was drug-free was also handed in.

Counsel said that in 2020, Collins went to Germany and began to dabble in drugs. When he returned to Ireland in 2022, he received information which seemed to have “destabilised” him, and this led to him partying more, working less and taking drugs.

Mr McGillicuddy asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence as there were exceptional circumstances in this case. He said his client was 30 years old and had not come before the courts before, and it would be unlikely that he would come again.

He said his client has mental health issues, which are a concern. He said Collins is holding down a good job and is a skilled tradesperson who is a valuable person to society.