Courier found with €450 worth of cocaine in home
By Brendan Grehan
A COURIER who had €450 worth of cocaine in his home left Tallaght Court with a three-month suspended sentence.
Judge Patricia McNamara heard that the gardai searched Gerard Fennell’s home in Tallaght with a Section 26 Warrant.
Fennell, aged 41, with an address at Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to simple possession of cocaine at the above address on March 31, 2018.
Sergeant Michael Ahern told Judge Patricia McNamara that the gardai found €450 worth of cocaine in Fennell’s home.
Judge McNamara said: “The fact that the Gardai had a Section 26 warrant means that they had a reasonable belief that there would be drugs in the house.”
She added; “€450 worth is a substantial amount of cocaine.”
Fennell’s solicitor, Padraig O’Donovan, asked Judge McNamara not to impose a conviction.
Judge McNamara suggested the drug awareness programme run by the Restorative Justice Services as a possible sanction.
Mr O’Donovan told the judge that he was not sure if Fennell would be able to do the programme as he travels around. The case then went to second calling to allow the Probation Officer explain the drug awareness programme to Fennell.
When the case was called again, Judge McNamara commented: “It is a substantial amount of cocaine”
Mr O’Donovan said Fennell would like the case dealt with.
Judge McNamara said: “So he does not want to commit to the drug awareness programme.”
Mr O’Donovan said: “He would not be able to commit to the programme.”
Judge McNamara pointedly made a note that Fennell “does not wish to engage with the drug awareness programme.”
She sentenced Fennell to three months imprisonment, suspended for one year.
