2026-02-20 · Dublin
'Vulnerable' couple agreed to store over €230k in drugs due to debts
Jason Whelan and Vivian Hanley, a couple with a history of drug use and debt, pleaded guilty to possessing over €230,000 worth of drugs at their home in Finglas. They admitted to being under duress and fear due to threats, and the drugs did not belong to them. Hanley, who has 15 previous convictions for road traffic offenses, has taken steps to address her drug addiction and is now in education and employment. Whelan, who became addicted to cocaine during lockdown, claims to be clean and has a work history. The court acknowledged their vulnerable positions and the threats they faced, adjourning sentencing until May for a probation report and urine analysis. The judge considered the possibility of deviating from the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, given their low position in the drug world and their efforts to improve their lives.