Man tried to hide drugs in flower pot
A 34-year-old man who attempted to hide wraps of heroin in a flower pot, has received a jail warning.
Ciarán O’Toole, with an address in Slane, pleaded guilty to charges of possession and possession for sale or supply of €600-worth of the drug in Drogheda.
Judge Gerry Jones adjourned the case for a probation report to 3 May next. He warned the defendant if he comes under notice for drugs in the meantime, he ‘will head straight to prison’.
Evidence was heard from Sgt Ray Brady that at 2.30pm on 21 August, 2017, in Magdalene Street, gardaí saw the accused remove a number of wraps from his pocket and drop them into a flower pot.
Officers then found 14 wraps of a brown substance which on analysis proved to be €600-worth of heroin.
O’Toole made admissions during a subsequent interview, and the court was also told he has 18 previous convictions, three under the Misuse of Drugs Act for possession.
His most recent conviction was in 2010 when he received three years for assault, twelve months of which were suspended.
‘I’ve a policy of sending to jail people who sell drugs on street corners,’ said Judge Jones, and turning to O’Toole’s solicitor, he added, ‘ Tell me why I shouldn’t.’
Fiona D’Arcy replied her client was not selling on street corners. The drugs were for himself and one other person, and such was his addiction at the time, he was ‘ buying in bulk’.
The defendant started using cannabis when he was 17. He became addicted to heroin while in prison.
He is engaging with addiction services. He attends daily for methadone and gets ‘ take-aways’ for the weekend, Ms D’Arcy continued.
O’Toole hopes to regain employment. The judge said if there is any trouble before the adjourned date, he will deal with the case himself, and the accused ‘will be heading in one direction’. It is up to him.
Legal aid was granted.