Taking up drug dealing in order to pay bills resulted in a 27-year-old man getting a five month suspended sentence at Galway District Court this week.
Jake Neale with an address at 87 Rosan Glas, Rahoon, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy on Monday and pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and posession with intent to sell or supply at 87 Rosan Glas on February 18, 2011.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that at 10.10am members of the drugs unit went to the defendant’s place of resident where they found a quantity of cannabis as well as drugs paraphernalia such as weighing scales. The court heard that there had been 110 grammes of cannabis found, with an estimated street value of €660. When questioned by gardai Neale had admitted that the drugs were his and that he had started selling to friends because he “had bills to pay” and that he “thought it would be a good idea”.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client had been at the house at the time of the search and that he had fully co-operated. She said that Neale, originally from Clare, has since gone back to further education and that he realises the seriousness of the matter. Ms Traynor then added that Neale has not been involved in the drugs scene since.
“To deal with this on a non-custodial basis the court must be satisfied of that,” replied Judge Fahy who was then informed by Inspector Coppinger that the investigating garda is of the opinion that “this was a once off” and that Neale has not come to Garda notice before or since.
Noting that Neale’s previous convictions are for road traffic offences Judge Fahy convicted him for possession of drugs for the purpose of selling or supplying and imposed a five month sentence which was then suspended for two years on the condition that he enter into a bond of €600 to be of good behaviour. The possession of drugs charge was taken into account and Judge Fahy also made an order for the destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia.
