A Mayo man, who had “foolishly” bought €100 of cocaine and a small quantity of cannabis after attending an engagement party, was fined a total of €900 at Galway District Court this week.
Paul O’Connell (33 ) with an address at Cornmarket, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, appeared before the court on Monday for being intoxicated in a public place at Debenhams, Eyre Street, and for two counts of possession of drugs at Galway Garda station on December 30, 2008.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that just before 6pm the defendant entered Debenhams in an extremely intoxicated state and was asked to leave but refused. Gardai were subsequently called and he was arrested and brought to Galway Garda station where he was searched. Cannabis worth €20 and cocaine worth €100 was found to be in O’Connell’s jacket and he admitted it was for his own use. The inspector added that the defendant has no previous convictions.
The defendant’s solicitor said that O’Connell had come to Galway to attend an engagement party and that he had been offered the drugs but that he had never used cocaine. The court heard that this package of cocaine was still intact and was never used.
“He accepted responsibility. He has never used cocaine. He was offered it and foolishly bought it. It was a wake up call,” said the solicitor.
“He knows that cocaine is a very serious drug,” said Judge Mary Fahy who convicted O’Connell and fined him €600 for possession of cocaine, €100 for possession of cannabis, and €200 for being intoxicated in a public place.
