Clondalkin man caught with cannabis and cocaine sentenced to 220 hours community service

By Brendan Grehan

A CLONDALKIN man who was caught with €1,100 worth of cannabis and €500 worth of cocaine has been sentenced to 220 hours community service by Blanchardstown District Court.

Judge David McHugh heard that Daryl Cullen had been holding the drugs for others after he had accumulated a drug debt.

Cullen, aged 30, with an address at Oldchurch Avenue, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to simple possession of cannabis and cocaine and possession for sale or supply of cannabis and cocaine at the above address on December 2, 2016.

Garda Ciaran O’Neill told Judge McHugh that on December 2 last, he was granted a search warrant and he made a search of Cullen’s home.

He said he found cannabis worth €1,100 and cocaine worth €500.

Cullen’s solicitor, Matthew Kenny, told Judge McHugh that his client had a previous conviction for possession of cannabis from 2007.

Mr Kenny put it to Garda O’Neill that apart from the conviction from 2007, his client was “a man of good character”.
Garda O’Neill replied: “Yes”.

Mr Kenny also put it to Garda O’Neill that after the search they had contacted the gardai to have the case dealt with as quickly as possible.

Garda O’Neil accepted that this was the case.

Mr Kenny said Cullen accepts that what he did was wrong. He said Cullen’s grandmother had died and he had spiralled into depression and then accumulated a drug debt.

Mr Kenny said Cullen then held the drugs for others with a view to paying off the drug debt.

Judge McHugh sentenced Cullen to 220 hours with five months jail in default.