Six months for young man ‘reduced by drugs’

‘A young man with so much promise, reduced by drugs,’ is how a district court judge has described Stephen McVeigh, whose appearance in court last week coincided with his 35th birthday.

The defendant, of Commons Road, Dromiskin, pleaded guilty to a number of charges arising out of separate incidents.

He has 33 previous convictions, and in handing down concurrent six-month sentences, Judge Brennan said he was taking into consideration time already spent in custody.

The judge added McVeigh’s pleas of guilty are not uncharacteristic of his approach, but he must impose sentences.

Solicitor Frank McDonnell said his client comes from a good background, and lived in America for a time, before returning to Ireland.

He discovered cannabis at the age of 16 or 17, and for the last eighteen years drugs have left him quite bewildered.

He was actively seeking funds to feed his habit during the commission of these offences.

Mr McDonnell continued it is a terrible pity McVeigh ‘ has fallen back’, as he is bright and articulate, and his parents stand by him.

He has always evidenced a desire to deal with his addiction, and is drug-free now, and attends the gym and library in prison, where he has been on remand for seven weeks, having failed to get High Court bail on one of the charges before the court.

The solicitor added the defendant is an exemplary prisoner, who remains in good health.

Evidence was given that he presented stolen property, namely two DVDs, headphones and a cable at CeX in the Marshes shopping centre for which he got €35 in return.

He was also seen discarding a spanner at Tain Court apartments, having no reason to be there; while when apprehended by gardai, he swallowed a small wrap of heroin which was found on him.

In a bag, McVeigh also had screwdrivers and drugs paraphernalia.

The accused was also observed on another occasion, checking out cars with a flash lamp.