Cocaine addict had bullet posted to his home, court hears

A cocaine addict who raised €5,000 to clear his drug 'debt' after a bullet was posted to his home has been jailed for storing cannabis resin for what Judge Tony Hunt described as "evil and sinister persons".

A cocaine addict who raised €5,000 to clear his drug 'debt' after a bullet was posted to his home has been jailed for storing cannabis resin for what Judge Tony Hunt described as "evil and sinister persons".

Paul Cullen (aged 21) Faussaugh Avenue, Cabra also suffered a hand injury when assaulted on behalf of the criminals after the cache valued almost €56,000 was seized by gardaí at his home on January 3, 2007.

Cullen was given a six-year sentence by Judge Hunt with the final 18 months suspended after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the cannabis resin for sale or supply.

Judge Hunt said this was another sad case of a young man going to jail because he used cocaine and it was "a further warning if one is needed to those who engage in what is called 'recreational drug use' in society".

He noted what he called many unpleasant aspects to this crime. As well as getting a bullet sent through the post and the violence carried out on him by the criminals who wanted their loss repaid, Cullen was "the one who is going to have to serve a custodial sentence because he used cocaine".

Judge Hunt said it was also sad to see the suffering brought about to Cullen’s family members and to his partner by this crime. He noted that Cullen "went back to work" to raise €5,000 to clear his drug-debt and said this was money that could have been beneficial to his partner and family.

Judge Hunt said that in deciding on sentence, he had to have regard to the fact that the Oireachtas had set down what said was often incorrectly called " a mandatory minimum sentence" of ten years for this offence.

"It is not in fact in any way a 'mandatory minimum sentence' but is a 'presumptive minimum sentence' for an offence which can carry a term of imprisonment for life at the upper end," he said.

Judge Hunt noted that the legislation also had provisions which allowed courts to depart from "the presumptive minimum sentence" and he was satisfied there were circumstances in this case to allow him consider imposing a lesser sentence.

These included Cullen’s guilty plea at the earliest possible stage and his forthright co-operation with the gardaí at his arrest. There was also his lack of "any substantial previous convictions" and the motivation for his involvement through fear of the "evil and sinister persons" who had also had him seriously assaulted.

"The evidence shows that this offence was not committed for financial gain," Judge Hunt added.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash named locally, as husband returns to Ireland 'Their smiles lit up the room': Tributes paid to mother and daughters killed in Mayo crash
Irish constitution referenda Transport Minister does not envisage congestion charges in near future
McEntee: Group using arson to 'sow division and fear' in communities Four arrests in connection with fire at hotel earmarked for asylum seekers
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited