South Dublin men found storing cannabis
Two south Dublin men who were caught storing over €9,000 of cannabis in a "profit making operation" have had their sentences adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dermot Garland, of Marlay View, Ballinteer, stored the drugs in his bedroom in return for a quantity of cannabis for his own use for Paul O'Driscoll of Moyville, Rathfarnham, who was selling it for profit.
Garland (aged 21), pleaded guilty to possession of €1,675 of cannabis for sale or supply in his car at Marley Court, Rathfarnam on May 18, 2006. O'Driscoll (aged 21), pleaded guilty to possession of €7,353 of cannabis for sale or supply at Stonemasons Way on the same date.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentencing to allow her to consider sentence.
Garda John Griffith told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that on foot of confidential information he stopped Garland on his way out of O'Driscoll’s house. He found €873 in cash on Garland’s person and 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 gardaí that 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 his client had been living "a feckless existence" but has taken steps to address his recreational drug use and has involved himself in community activities.
He said Garland, who is a graphic designer, had taken an appropriate attitude to the charges and co-operated with gardaí. He said he had excellent employment and rehabilitative prospects.
Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, defending O'Driscoll, said his client had a tragic background. His father had left 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.
He said some of O'Driscoll’s extended family, who were "appalled" at the offence, were in court to support him. He said O'Driscoll, whom he described as a "vulnerable individual", had expressed "genuine and heartfelt" remorse at his involvement and was aware that he had put his future prospects in jeopardy.
