A young man who was found with cannabis, ecstasy, and over €3,000 in drug money, will have to wait until October 13 to find out what his fate will be after Judge Mary Fahy had doubts about imposing a suspended sentence after hearing he had not been on his best behaviour.
Damien Feeney (24 ) with an address at 124 Manor Court, Knocknacarra but formerly of Forramoyle East, Barna, appeared at Galway District Court last Wednesday and pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, possession of Ecstasy, and possession of cannabis resin with intent to sell or supply. A third count of possession of cannabis was withdrawn.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that on February 2, 2007, gardaí carried out a search at 124 Manor Court and found cannabis and 10 ecstasy tablets. He added that the defendant immediately took responsibility for the drugs.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client had been smoking cannabis since the age of 16 and that by the time he was 19 he had become addicted and moved onto ecstasy. While his family were unaware, she said the defendant’s problems developed while he was in rented accommodation and he started to sell small amounts of drugs to fund his own use of ecstasy, and associated with people he wouldn’t normally have while growing up.
Ms Corcoran said that the defendant has now moved back home and has started to ween himself off drugs. She said that he has been giving clean urine samples and is completing his fourth year as an apprentice electrician. The court also heard that the defendant has no previous convictions.
However, Inspector Coppinger then informed Judge Mary Fahy that a quantity of cash, totalling €3,290, had also been found during the search. When he was questioned about it the defendant told gardai at the time that “it was a debt which belonged to the people he bought his supply off”. Inspector Coppinger then asked for this money to be forfeited.
“Why would he bother, if he wasn’t making money?” asked Judge Fahy.
Ms Corcoran said that he was using the profit to fund his own use and then asked Judge Fahy to give the defendant an opportunity.
Judge Fahy at first considered a suspended sentence but when Ms Corcoran said that the defendant had unrelated public order offences coming before the court, it changed everything.
“That doesn’t impress me very much. He knows he is in for sentencing and comes to Garda notice. I have second doubts now. He has a summons before the court the least he can do is behave himself,” said a disgruntled Judge Fahy.
Ms Corcoran explained that the defendant was not addicted to alcohol but had been under extreme pressure and slipped up. She said that she thought it appropriate to inform the court of these offences, and she again asked for Judge Fahy to give him a chance.
Judge Fahy replied that she had to hear the nature of the offences, which included threatening and abusive behaviour, as it “can be minor or vicious”. She adjourned the case to October 13, 2008, to hear “the fuller picture”.
