Foundwithdrugs aftermusicevent

A man who was found to have more than €2,600-worth of drugs on him following a music festival in north Louth has been imprisoned after pleading guilty to possession and supply charges.

Daniel Ciemiega (23), 1 Farrancleary Place, Blackpool, Cork, was discovered by gardaí in an intoxicated state on the main Dundalk road near to where the event was taking place in Bellurgan Park on 16 September, 2019.

Evidence was given that he had MDMA, cocaine and cannabis resin in plastic bags concealed on his person. The total value of the drugs amounted to €2,649.

Ciemiega pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of drugs and two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dundalk garda station later on the date in question. He also admitted being intoxicated in a public place.

He has 35 previous convictions including seven for unlawful possession of drugs and one for dealing.

Barrister Ronan O’Carroll said the defendant began taking drugs at age 13 and went into care at 14. He had no relationship with his parents.

A bright young man, he attained in excess of 450 points in his Leaving Cert. He was doing a degree in Herbal Science in Cork and hoped to complete it.

Ciemiega had been custody in Cork prison since 5 September, 2020, and was attending a psychiatrist there.

Passing sentence, Judge McKiernan said she had read a letter the defendant had written to the court, but the reality was ‘there are innocent victims who could end up like you’.

A six-month sentencce was imposed, the last two months suspended on Ciemiega entering a probation bond. The sentence was back-dated to when he went into custody in September.