Ballymount man arrested for drug-dealing after coming back from U.S.
By Conor Gallagher
A MAN who travelled to America after he was caught dealing drugs in 2010 was arrested when he tried to set up a homelessness charity on his return to Ireland.
Stephen Winders (41) was caught with 19 cannabis plants and nearly €1,700 worth of heroin which he was selling to feed his own drug habit. He fled to America while on bail and got clean of drugs while there with the help of an intensive treatment programme.
Winders, of Ballymount Road, Ballymount, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply at his home on October 14, 2010.
His counsel said he returned to Ireland this year so he could help others get clean and decided to set up a charity called Progress Homelessness to address problems of addiction and homelessness.
Winders required garda clearance to register the charity. When he went to a garda station earlier this year to obtain this, gardaí discovered the outstanding warrants and arrested him.
“He could hardly have thought the State would turn a blind eye to almost €10,000 worth of drugs,” Judge Catherine Murphy commented.
Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL said Winders had contacted his solicitor prior to returning to Ireland and was told that gardaí said there were no outstanding warrants.
Progress Homelessness had now been established and was in the fundraising stage, counsel said. It had the support of the HSE and the church had donated a house for use as a residential care premises.
Mr Le Vert said he was “very much hoping” Judge Murphy would not impose a custodial sentence given Winders charity work.
“Your usual powerful words have great persuasion indeed,” Judge Murphy said. “Unfortunately I still think a custodial sentence is deserved.”
However she agreed to give Winders a chance and adjourned the matter until March 20, 2017. She said that she would consider a suspended sentence if there was an unblemished probation services report in court, including clean drug tests.
Garda John Thompson said the drugs were found after gardaí obtained a search warrant and broke down Winders’ door.
They found 19 cannabis plants, worth a total of €7,600 at €400 a plant. They also found a plastic bag of heroin worth €1,668.
Winders claimed the drugs were for his personal use and that he didn’t think they were worth so much. He was released on bail and travelled to America soon after. While in the US he worked as a television camera man.
Prosecuting counsel Seamus Clarke BL said Winders has ten previous convictions including car theft and threatening behaviour. He said he has not come to garda attention since 2010.
