Suspended sentence for drugs offences
A 22-YEAR-OLD New Ross man who pleaed guilty to five drugs-related offences has been given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
Ronan Godkin, of 6 Ard Alainn, New Ross, came before Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis, cocaine and Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) for sale or supply at 6 Ard Alainn on November 18, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to further charges of possession of cannabis and cocaine on the same date.
Garda John Maher told prosecuting Counsel, Ms Sinead Gleeson, that three of the charges were of possession for sale or supply, with two charges of simple possession.
Gardai executed a seach warrant at Godkin’s house where they discovered 219.37 grams of cannabis, 14.7 grams of cocaine, 28 Alprazolam tablets along with €535 in cash. The combined value of the drugs were estimated to be €5,472, said Garda Maher.
Godkin was arrested and brought to New Ross Garda Station where he made a full admission.
He told gardai he was selling the drugs in order to pay his own drug debt.
Defence Counsel Liam Stafford (instructed by Eric Furlong, solicitor), told the court that the defendant was very co-operative.
He said Godkin was selling the drugs to sustain his own addiction to drugs.
The defendant has had considerable difficulty in getting himself off drugs, however a probation report from July 5 showed that he was clear of all drugs.
The court was told Godkin was attending the Cornmarket Project three days a week as well as doing a social studies course at the Adult Education Centre in New Ross.
Judge Quinn said he would impose an 18-month concurrent sentence on each of the five charges, but would suspend the sentences in their entirety as the defendant had no previous convictions.