Suspended prison term for man caught moving €68k worth of heroin to clear drug debt for his step-son

A man was caught moving over €68,000 of heroin to assist his step-son who had a drug debt and was later shot dead, a court has heard.

Peter Finnegan (37) agreed to move the drugs in his car in June 2018 to help his step-son Jordan Davis (22) who had amassed at one stage a drug debt of €150,000.

The family home was attacked many times due to this debt.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mr Davis was shot dead on May 22, 2019 while he was wheeling his four month old baby in a buggy.

Finnegan with an address at Foxhill Green, Ayrfield, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at Foxfield Avenue, Ayrfield, on June 10, 2018.

He has no previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan said he thought the level of culpability of the accused was “very low”.

He sentenced Finnegan to four years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions.

During the sentencing hearing today, Garda Neil Plunkett told Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that on foot of information gardaí put an operation in place on the date in question and followed a car driven by the accused man.

Gda Plunkett said that when the car was stopped, Finnegan told gardaí there was a red bag in the car which contained drugs. The total value of the heroin found in this bag was €68,600.

In interview with gardaí, Finnegan denied that he had indicated that a bag was present when he was stopped and denied all knowledge of the bag. His DNA was later located on the handles of the bag.

Gda Plunkett agreed with Anne Rowland SC, defending, that her client was the step-father of Mr Davis who became addicted to drugs and amassed a drug debt.

He agreed that in May 2019, Mr Davis was shot dead in broad daylight while wheeling his four month old baby in a buggy.

The garda agreed with counsel that her client was moving the drugs to help with his step-son’s drug debt.

He agreed that the family home had been attacked many times due to this debt.

Ms Rowland said her client has a severe intellectual disability.

She said a forensic psychological report concluded that only 0.1% of the population would have lower intellectual capabilities than her client.

Counsel said her client has “surmounted” his difficulties and is able to work five days a week. She said his money is spent on his children and none of it is spent on himself.

Ms Rowland said at one stage Mr Davis told his step-father that he owed a debt of “150” and her client put his hands in his pockets and said he could give him €150.

Mr Davis replied that he owed a drug debt of €150,000.

Judge Nolan said he accepted the defence’s submission that Finnegan was “prevailed upon” to carry these drugs to help his step-son.