Man (19) admits to drug dealing during ‘Rag Week’ in Sligo

A 19 year old man who admitted having drugs for sale during Rag Week has had his case adjourned for a year for monitoring and also to pay €2,000 to a charity.

Before Sligo District Court was Jamie Gaffney of Alderford, Ballyfarnon who admitted possessing ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine for sale or supply at Sixth nightclub, Teeling Street on February 3rd 2017. He also admitted having ecstasy for sale or supply at an apartment at Ard Nua, Ballinode on February 5 th.

Sergeant Derek Butler outlined to the court how at 2.45am security at the nightclub contacted Garda when they saw the defendant drop a small plastic bag to the ground.

The bag contained cannabis. Gardaí arrived and the defendant was found to be in possession of five plastic bags which contained cannabis (€91), ketamine (€37), cocaine (€21) and ecstasy (€11).

A search warrant was subsequently got for an apartment whose address was in his mobile phone where a Peter Archer lived. Seven small bags of drugs were found in a bedroom containing cannabis and ecstasy.

Other drug parphanelia was also found there. Gaffney admitted he was selling the drugs during Rag Week. He did not have any previous convictions.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) said it seemed to be a typical story for a 19 year old man and it had come as a big shock to his parents that he would have been involved in something like this. He had gone to Scotland labouring after the incident and had returned to face the charges.

“It’s a bad start in life for a young man. I don’t know how these young men don’t think and go and commit these offences which destroys their future,” said Mr McGovern.

He pleaded that the defendant co-operated fully and added that there were a number of people residing in the apartment. The defendant was currently working in a premises in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Judge Kevin Kilrane said the only good thing about the case is that the defendant’s little escapade in dealing with drugs had been nipped in the bud at an early stage. Sale or supply charges were very serious and did not distinguish and was a “nasty order to have nailed to his CV forever.”

The Judge noted the guilty plea and the fact he had no previous convictions. The case was adjourned for a year for monitoring.

If there was nothing else he would consider leaving the defendant without a formal conviction. A sum of €2,000 must also be paid to charity.

The question of legal aid was adjourned to September 2019 also but the Judge told the defendant that he expected him to have paid his solicitor out of his own pocket by then.

Archer of 7 Warren Drive, Boyle was ordered to pay €100 to Hope House after he admitted possessing cannabis at the apartment. The third year student walked in when Gardaí were carrying out their search.