Father of six pressurised into holding drugs after borrowing
By Fiona Ferguson
A father of six who was pressurised into holding cannabis after borrowing money for Christmas has received a suspended jail sentence.
Declan Henry (37), who has no previous convictions, told gardai that he had been unable to make the repayments and was holding the drugs to repay the debt.
Henry, of Brookview Close, Brookfield, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Brookview Close on June 8, 2016.
The court heard that during a search of the house gardai found cannabis with an estimated street value of €39,900.
Henry met gardai by appointment the following day for interview. He told them he had not been able to pay back €1,200 he had borrowed and was holding the drugs to repay this debt.
He said it was stupid, but he was ducking and diving the debt and was told to pay back or hold the drugs. He told gardai he was “gutted” for what he had done to his wife and children.
Garda O’Connor agreed with Sandra Frayne BL, defending, that Henry was a “family man” who worked when he could. He agreed there was nothing to indicate Henry was making any profit.
Ms Frayne handed a number of reports into court which she said detailed a “very difficult background.” She said her client and his partner had six children and another on the way.
Judge Karen O’Connor noted that Henry was not on any garda “radar” in relation to criminal activity. She said that there was no evidence of him living an affluent lifestyle or making a profit for himself.
She suspended a sentence of three-and-a-half years on condition that Henry keep the peace and engage with Probation Services.
