Man found in shop toilet with heroin worth €2k

A man who hid in the toilets of a supermarket in an attempt to evade gardaí, was subsequently found to have almost €2,000-worth of heroin on him.

At Dundalk court last week James Reilly (31), Church View, Dromiskin, pleaded guilty to possession of 14g of the drug for sale or supply, and a further charge of driving without insurance.

He also had sums of euro and sterling, some of the money in his socks.

Judge McKiernan heard that on 7 June, 2019, at Dunnes Stores, Aghameen Park, a BMW was being driven in an evasive manner by Reilly.

He exited the vehicle in a hurry and went into the supermarket. Initially gardaí couldn’t locate him until a member of staff pointed out that he had gone into the toilets.

The defendant was searched after being apprehended. He had thirteen wraps of heroin, as well as €380 and £40 stg, including €50 in a sock and €150 in the car console.

The drugs had a value of €1,965. Reilly has 19 previous convictions, and is presently in custody on remand in relation to a circuit criminal court matter.

Solicitor Aimee McCumiskey added her client was a bricklayer who started using heroin at age 27 when he was introduced to it in prison.

He had been spending €100 perday on the drug and had lost his job.

‘Heroin has ruined his life and other lives,’ said Ms McCumiskey of her client who has two children.

The judge noted the Section 15 charge was very serious and that drugs impacted on other people.

She sentenced Reilly to four months imprisonment, and disqualified him from driving for four years for having no insurance.

Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and confiscation of the cash.