Convicted murderer jailed for possession of cocaine
A convicted murderer and drug dealer has been jailed for two years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he was found in possession of €1,980 worth of cocaine.
Anthony O'Reilly (aged 22) of Cleggan Park, Ballyfermot received a life sentence last April after he had been convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering Daniel McDonald on Main Street, Arklow, in Wicklow on February 2, 2007.
He had 18 other previous convictions including other charges for drug dealing.
Judge Katherine Delahunt took into account evidence that O'Reilly has been using his time in the Midlands Prison "wisely" and had co-operated with the garda investigation.
She said she was also taking into account that he had previous convictions for drug dealing which included a conviction in the District Court weeks before he was caught with this cocaine.
Garda Tara Corrigan told Mr Sean Gillane BL, prosecuting, that the cocaine was found in two different stashes in his bedroom.
He claimed that a smaller amount worth €80 was for his own use and said the other powder found was not cocaine but a medication that he used to relieve pain. Forensic analysis later proved the larger amount was cocaine and worth an estimated €1,900.
Gda Corrigan agreed with defence counsel Mr Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that O'Reilly had serious cocaine habit at the time but he was now looking much healthier.
Mr Le Vert told Judge Delahunt that the murder conviction had noting to do with drug dealing.
He said since O'Reilly's transferal to the Midlands Prison he has been using his time well, working in the gym and taking up some of the educational courses in an attempt to prepare him for his eventual release from custody.
