A Circuit Court judge has decided not to impose the mandatory 10 year sentence on a man and woman who pleaded guilty to having more than €13,000 cannabis for sale or supply.
Father of three Michael McNamara was staying at Michelle Nagle’s home in St Brigid’s Terrace, Mullingar on May 6, 2010 when officers found the cannabis which he had stored there, some of which she delivered and used.
Nagle (31 ), who now lives at Dublin Road, Longford was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for four years and McNamara, who spent one night in Cloverhill, was given a five year sentence, suspended for 10 years.
Detective Garda David Mead explained how when he visited the house, McNamara immediately brought him to the 5kg of high grade cannabis or “pollen”.
Ms Nagle was aware of it, but McNamara took responsibility for it. With a home address in Curragheen, Tralee, he had been staying at the house while working.
Garda Mead said he didn’t believe Nagle made a profit out of the exploits, but McNamara would help with household bills.
McNamara, who had problems with gambling, alcohol, and drug use was holding cannabis as a way to make money. His home was repossessed and he then began drinking and smoking dope.
“I got lost,” he told the court and apologised for how he had destroyed Nagle’s life and that of his family.
He has also since paid his superiors for the drugs taken by gardaí. His role was to hold the drugs and then pass them on.
He said he was disgusted by what he had done and that every time he came to court, he had to prepare his children for the possibility that he might be going to jail, for what he told them was a drink driving offence.
Mr Ken Fogarty, SC asked the court to consider the scale of the offence, and pointed out that the pair had not been floating bales of cannabis off the coast.
He asked the court to consider using its discretion not to impose the minimum mandatory 10 years.
Neither were habitual criminals, Judge Tony Hunt noted, but he said that just because he had fallen on hard times, this wasn’t an excuse for McNamara to deal in drugs.
He was impressed with efforts Nagle has made since she was arrested and said she wasn’t a prime mover in the offence. He warned her she will have to stay off cannabis.
