Teenager on bike had over €5,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine

By Brendan Grehan

A “GULLIBLE” TEENAGER, who dealt in over €5,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis from a bicycle, was sentenced to four months detention by Tallaght Court.

The court had heard that on May 18, 2015, two gardaí observed Darren Yeates cycling a bicycle in Tallaght . Yeates started cycling away when he saw the gardaí.

He then dropped a large bag before being stopped by the gardaí.

The bag contained €5,200 worth of cannabis and cocaine.

Yeates, aged 18, with an address at St Aongus Green, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to simple possession of cannabis and cocaine and possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at another address in Tallaght on May 18, 2015.

He had also pleaded guilty to simple possession of cannabis herb at Tymon North, Tallaght, on May 17, 2015, and to simple possession of cannabis at St Aongus Crescent, Tallaght,on July 1, 2015. He was before Judge Bridget Reilly for a probation report.

Judge Reilly told the teenager: “You have been given every opportunity by the probation services and you haven’t bothered. I have to look at the public interest. The activities you were involved in cause problems for society.”

Yeates’ solicitor, Michael Hennessy, said his client had been exploited by older males.

Judge Reilly said Yeates had been found with drugs worth €5,200 and “a child of eight” would have known that this is wrong.

Mr Hennessy said: “He is the kind of naïve, gullible, not very intelligent young person that these type of people prey on.”

Judge Reilly said the cases before the court were “very serious matters” and added that Yeates had been given every opportunity by the court.

She sentenced Yeates to four months detention for the possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply charge, and took the remaining matters into consideration.