Man (30) arrested with bag of drugs outside prison jailed for nine months

A MAN arrested with a bag of drugs outside a prison has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Conor Clarke ran from gardai and attempted to swallow suspected cocaine after he was seen dropping a bag of steel nuts and drugs near Wheatfield prison.

Clarke, aged 30, with an address at Bawnlea Avenue, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to attempting to convey drugs into the jail on June 7, 2020.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan said gardai on duty at 6.15pm on the day saw a vehicle driving into Bridgeview Halting Site, Clondalkin next to Wheatfield.

The gardai attempted to stop the vehicle and the passenger – Clarke – ran from the car, Sgt Callaghan said.

As gardai tried to stop Clarke, he discarded a bag containing steel nuts wrapped in tape. It also contained cannabis and tablets worth €400.

When he was stopped, he attempted to swallow a bag containing suspected cocaine, the sergeant said.

Clarke had more than 80 previous convictions for offences including unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault, and was already serving a sentence when he appeared in court.

Clarke accepted responsibility for his actions, his barrister said.

The accused’s earliest release date from prison was in 2024 and the barrister asked the judge not to lengthen his sentence.

Clarke was working in prison, trying to learn a trade so he could get lawful employment on release, his barrister said.

The judge noted that while Clarke had a previous record, this was his first conviction for a drugs offence. He made the nine month sentence consecutive to the existing prison term and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.