Suspended sentence for drug dealer who took up cannabis after cancer diagnoisis

By Natasha Reid

A man, who began dealing cannabis after taking it as a remedy for cancer-related nausea and insomnia six years ago, has been handed a six-year suspended prison sentence.

Andrew Connor (26), of Thornwood, Beaumont, Dublin 9 is now a wheelchair user and has ongoing medical issues, after the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosed when he was 20 spread to his lungs and spine.

He was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply, one count relating to more than €130,000 worth of the drug.

Imposing sentence, Orla Crowe said the value of the drugs was aggravating.

She noted Connor’s guilty pleas, his age and that he is dealing with ongoing complex medical issues and imposed a global sentence of six years.

Judge Crowe said the court considered that Connor’s extensive health issues to be exceptional and suspended the sentence in full on strict conditions, including that he place himself under the supervision of The Probation Service for two years.

An investigating garda told an earlier sentence hearing that the first plea arose from a drug deal on October 28, 2021, at the junction of Clonshaugh Road and Oscar Traynor Road in Dublin.

The garda explained that three males parked up a blue Mercedes around 5.40pm, before a van arrived. The driver of the van went to the rear of his vehicle, and opened and closed the back door.

He was then seen carrying a white plastic bag, which he handed to the rear-seat passenger of the blue Mercedes. That passenger was the defendant.

The Mercedes left, but was stopped by gardaí, who found €12,856 worth of cannabis in the car. There was over €9,000 worth at Connor’s feet, and more €2,000 worth in the glove box.

Connor indicated that he felt he was set up. He said that he had been storing it in relation to a debt.

A co-accused, who had a previous conviction for drug dealing, has already been jailed for two years in relation to the seizure.

The garda agreed with the defence that, when asked why he would not say who he was holding the drugs for, Connor replied: “Because I like my life.”

A small amount of cannabis was later found in his garden shed, and his mother told gardaí he would smoke cannabis in that shed.

The garda agreed that Connor, who had no previous convictions, was at the lower end of the ladder in the drug trade. He also agreed that Connor had attended court every time his health allowed.

Detective Garda Philip Walsh then outlined the second charge against Connor, which was committed while on bail for the first.

Det Gda Walsh explained that on March 9, 2022, customs officers examined a package at UPS in Swords Business Park, and discovered herbal cannabis, later valued at €130,564.

Gardaí became involved and a controlled delivery was carried out of the package, which was addressed to a Sean Brady at an apartment in Artane.

There was a phone number on the package and an arrangement was made to meet the recipient.

The garda delivering the package met a male who said he was Sean Brady and gave a code. Connor signed a delivery docket and walked away before being arrested by Det Gda Walsh.

In interview, he told gardaí that he had not known the amount of drugs involved, and that he was to get €200 for his part.

Det Gda Walsh agreed with the defence that Connor had said he received €112 a week in social welfare.

He was asked if he had thought this deal was dodgy. Connor replied that he had, ‘but not this heavy’.

He said that he would sell deals valued at €25 or €50, and knew who the true owner of the drugs was, but could not say without endangering his family. He said he was being told what to do.

Det Gda Walsh agreed that Connor was taking maximum risk for minimum reward and had grown up in a difficult environment.

His barrister told the court that Connor was one of six children, and his father died of a drug overdose when he was an infant, and he had a difficult background. The family moved house more than 10 times and also experienced homelessness.

Counsel explained that the accused had been working as a commis chef when diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2020. He began experiencing insomnia and nausea and tried different remedies. When he tried cannabis, it worked. He then got into debt.

Counsel said that in 2023, Connor lost sensation in his legs. The cancer is now in his lungs, abdomen and spine, the latter causing irreversible paraplegia.

He has been discharged to an assisted living facility in Swords and is on significant medication for chronic pain.

Connor relies on two healthcare assistants throughout the day, and cannot stay in his wheelchair for more than four hours due to damaged nerves. He is also receiving ongoing follow-up care in Beaumont Hospital.

The court heard that there were periods of self-harm after Connor lost the use of his legs, but counsel handed in a letter from Connor, in which he said he had finally learnt to accept his fate.

Counsel also handed in case law on physical illness and disability and said that this was a case where it was open to the court to fully suspend the sentence.

A probation report placed him at medium risk of re-offending, with counsel submitting that there are practical barriers to Connor re-offending due to his health situation.