Man attempted to discard drugs while being led to a patrol car by gardaí

Dale Greenwood 30 Nov 2020

Brion Hoban

A man who attempted to discard a quantity of drugs while being led to a patrol car by gardaí has received a fully suspended sentence.

 

Sean Maher (20) had already been arrested for possession of drugs and was wearing handcuffs when he attempted to dispose of further drugs hidden in his underwear.

 

Maher, of Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Grand Canal Bank, Clondalkin, on June 27, 2019. He has no previous convictions.

 

Garda Brendan Murphy told Joseph Barnes BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, gardaí were conducting a patrol in an area of Clondalkin known for the sale and supply of illegal drugs.

 

Gda Murphy said he saw the accused cycle towards the canal and stopped him. He searched Maher and found a small amount of cannabis on his person.

 

The garda placed Maher in handcuffs and had begun leading him to the patrol car when the accused reached into his underwear and discarded an amount of drugs onto the ground. A physical altercation ensued during which Maher was put onto the ground and all of the drugs were recovered.

 

Maher’s home was searched and further quantities of cannabis, cocaine and heroin were discovered, alongside a quantity of ketamine and a concealed weighing scales.

 

The combined total value of all drugs seized from Maher’s person and his address was €13,220.

 

Ciaran MacLoughlin BL, defending, said his client started taking cocaine at the age of 17 and incurred a drug debt of €1,500. He said his client was holding the drugs and was selling them to pay off his debt.

 

Counsel said his client now works full-time in a bookmakers. He said his client was aged 19 at the time of the offence.

 

Judge Pauline Codd said Maher was a person led down this path by reason of his drug addiction and that he was “beholden to others”. She noted he has undergone urine analysis and was found to be clean of all illicit substances.

 

Judge Codd sentenced Maher to three years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions.

 

 

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