Martial arts champion avoids jail after 'legal high' seizure
A national martial arts champion who hopes to represent Ireland in the Olympics has avoided jail after being caught with over €22,000 of drugs.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Derek Reid (aged 25) was caught with €17,255 worth of mephedrone, a previously “legal high” that had been sold in head shops up to two months before this offence.
Reid of Slademore Close, Ard Na Greine, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of the mephedrone and €6,000 worth of cannabis at Oscar Traynor Road on July 20, 2010.
Garda Gerard Nixon told Mr Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that he stopped Reid’s car after he saw him overtaking another car at speed.
He said he then carried out a search of the car because he could smell cannabis herb and he found the drugs in plastic bags in the foot well.
Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, said his client had developed addiction problems with benzodiazapam, cocaine and cannabis but has taken steps to deal with these addictions.
He said Reid had practiced the martial art of Taekwondo up to his early teens but had drifted away from the sport.
He said Reid was now coaching the sport and was a “National Champion” at home and abroad and that, as a member of the Irish National Team he hoped to compete at the Olympics.
A report from the Probation Services said that since this offence Reid had responded in a “positive and satisfactory” way and was addressing his addiction problems.
The court heard that he came from an “impeccably supportive” family and that his father had taken an addiction studies course to try to help his son.
Judge Martin Nolan said Reid had succeeded in reforming himself and suspended a sentence of six years imprisonment for six years.
