Man avoids jail sentence for drug offence

By Stephen Bourke

A 23-year-old father-of-three caught with deal bags, a weighing scales and over €58,000 worth of cannabis when gardaí raided his home last year has broken down in tears after avoiding a jail term.

Jordan Stone pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale and supply at his family home at Poolbeg Quay in Ringsend, Dublin 4 on 14 March 2020.

He has two previous convictions, for drugs possession and for assault causing harm.

At his sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Stone was called to give evidence by Dean Kelly SC, defending. His left hand was visibly trembling as he approached the witness box.

“There’s no need to be anxious,” Judge Pauline Codd said, and he was sworn in.

“Your honour I made a big change in my life since then… like since then I’ve learned a lot. I made a mistake your honour, I made a big mistake. I’m ready to face the consequences. I wasn’t really aware of the impacts drugs have on the community,” he said. “But I’ve seen it first-hand for myself.”

Acting on a tip-off, gardaí entered his home with a search warrant, and found 2.9kg of cannabis herb valued at €58,798, along with €1,420 in cash. They also found 1.1g of cocaine, worth €78.

“I believe he was under pressure to hold it for someone else,” Garda Patrick Collins told the court earlier this year. He said Stone told him he had a drug addiction and made a full admission when he was interviewed – but that he would not identify anyone else involved out of fear.

“As I told Mr Collins that was the first time that happened, your honour. Whatever happens today that will be the last time,” Stone said.

Previously, Stone’s defence had said the offending came at a period of collapse in his life after the breakup of his relationship with the mother of his two younger daughters, and that his mother’s death had been a trigger.

Counsel argued he had amassed a drug debt, and had no idea how much he was holding.

Judge Codd said the amount of cannabis seized was “a significant amount of drugs” and it came within the middle range of the amounts dealt with by the Circuit Court.

“It’s agreed he was trapped in a drugs lifestyle and effectively feeding his own habit,” she said.

She accepted Stone has a good work record and had suffered the recent death of his mother at a relatively young age, and said she would take his guilty plea as a mitigating factor.

“He still struggles to stay off drugs but has made quite admirable attempts to do so,” she said. “He does seem to have learned a salutary lesson.”

She said she would impose a “lengthy” suspended sentence, and ordered a term of five years’ imprisonment, suspended for three years.

Stone buried his face in his hands and sobbed.

“I’m giving you an opportunity to rehabilitate,” she said. “I’m giving you this opportunity to turn your life around.”

“Thank you,” he said, and then rose, left the dock and went to the back of the court and began thanking Garda Collins.

“Mr Stone, Mr Stone, you have to enter a bond,” she said, and he returned.

She ordered that he attend any courses recommended by the Probation Service on victim awareness and substance misuse, and ordered the destruction of the drugs and the confiscation of the cash.

“Mr Stone I don’t want to see you back here again,” she said.

“No, never again Judge,” he said.