Man who sold drugs was ‘well aware what he was doing’

AN ARKLOW man convicted of selling cocaine and cannabis was ‘well aware of what he was doing’ according to the judge, who handed the 24-year-old a prison term.

Shane O’Neill with an address at 38 Fr Redmond Park, Arklow, was charged with two counts of possession for sale or supply and three counts of the unlawful possession of drugs at Fr Redmond Park on July 8, 2016.

The court heard that cannabis worth €885 and cocaine worth €250, cash in the sum of €1,600 and weighing scales with a diary containing lists of names and phone numbers were seized during a garda search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A bag of cannabis with a street value of €560 was also found which the defendant said was for his own use.

Solicitor Tom Honan said that his client accepted responsibility for his actions and met the case properly.

Judge David Kennedy imposed two sixmonth prison sentences, to be served concurrently, and took the other charges into consideration.

Judge Kennedy refused an application to have the sentence suspended and said that the defendant ‘ knows the risk’ of engaging in drug dealing.

‘He is quite a serious dealer and a serious amount of money is being made. He’s 24, not 17, and was well aware of what he was doing. There has to be a deterrent,’ the judge said.

Mr Honan later lodged notice of appeal on behalf of his client.