A man in his thirties who resides in Knock, but is from the UK, was sentenced to nine months in jail or told to leave Ireland in the next 30 days and not return to the jurisdiction for five years, after he was convicted for possession of heroin — which he was smoking outside a petrol station in Castlebar in the middle of the day.
Jamie Robinson, 20 Carromore Drive, Knock, appeared before court in November 2008 where the court heard that the defendant was detected smoking heroin in his car outside Corrib Oil in April 2008, with the case being adjourned until Wednesday’s sitting of Castlebar District Court, in order to establish if the man had any previous convictions in the UK.
The court heard this week that the defendant has a string of previous convictions. Judge Mary Devins said: “You are not the sort of man we need in the Republic of Ireland”, and said that she would impose a prison sentence which would cost the country “a huge amount of money” or Robinson could choose to leave the jurisdiction thus saving the country money.
Solicitor for the defendant Rory O’Connor said that if Robinson returned to the UK it would “be certain death”, as he had a severe heroin habit when he resided there.
Judge Devins convicted and fined Robinson €700 and sentenced him to nine months in prison with the warrant not to issue on the condition that he leaves the jurisdiction in 30 days from Wednesday, with his travel plans indicated in advance to the Castlebar superintendent, and that Robinson would not return to the jurisdiction for five years. Recognisnances were fixed.
