02/11/2007 00:00:00
Ireland: Man jailed for three years for cannabis storage
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A south county Dublin man caught storing over €9,000 of cannabis in a
"profit making operation" has been jailed for three years by Judge
Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dermot Garland (aged 21), of Marley View, Ballinteer, asked his friend
Paul O'Driscoll (aged 21) of Moyville, Rathfarnham, to store the drugs
in his bedroom in return for a quantity of cannabis for his own use,
while Garland sold on the drugs for profit.
Judge Delahunt said Garland was "drug dealer no more no less" who was
running a business to make a profit.
She accepted that he was an intelligent man with a qualification before
she added that: "The court does not believe you are in any way naïve".
Garland, a graphic designer, pleaded guilty to possession in his car at
Marley Court, Rathfarnam, of cannabis worth €1,675 for sale or supply on
the same date.
O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of €7,353 of cannabis for sale
or supply at Stonemasons Way, Rathfarnam on May 18, 2006.
He was remanded on bail to next February to allow for the preparation of
a probation report after Judge Delahunt said his case was "significantly
different" to that of Garland's.
She accepted garda evidence that O'Driscoll was considered: "A very low
level in this criminal trade and didn’t feature on any garda radar".
Garda John Griffith told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that he found
€873 in cash on Garland’s person when on foot of confidential
information he stopped him on his way out of O'Driscoll’s house.
A search of his car turned up 239 grams of cannabis with a further €175
in cash under the passenger seat.
Gda Griffith said during a search of O'Driscoll’s house they found 1,050
grams of cannabis in vacuum packed bags stored in a holdall in his
bedroom as well as a document outlining amounts paid.
Garland told gardai he was using O'Driscoll’s house as a "safe house" to
store cannabis which he was selling for a profit.
O'Driscoll said he was not being paid but was to receive a supply of
"weed" for personal use instead.
Gda Griffith said neither of the men, who are both in full time
employment, have any previous convictions.
Mr Remy Farrell BL, defending Garland, said his client did not have a
drug addiction and this was a case of supplying drugs for profit. He
said Garland had been living "a feckless existence" but had taken steps
to address his recreational drug use and had now involved himself in
community activities.
Mr Farrell said Garland had taken "an appropriate attitude" to the
charges and co-operated with gardai. He had excellent employment and
rehabilitative prospects.
Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, defending O'Driscoll, described him as a
"vulnerable individual" who had a tragic background.
His father had left the family while he was an infant, his mother died
when he was seven and his grandfather who was taking care of him died
the following year. As a teenager he found his now paralysed grandmother
collapsed after a stroke.
Mr Kennedy said some of O'Driscoll’s extended family, who were
"appalled" at the offence, were in court to support him. He said
O'Driscoll had expressed "genuine and heartfelt" remorse at his
involvement and was aware that he had put his future prospects in jeopardy
http://www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=236392804&p=z363935yx&n=236393564
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12981
Author:
Evening Echo: Ireland via UKCIA
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