2024-10-24
Fully suspended sentence for €500k drugs and cash haul was too lenient, appeal court finds
Stage: Appeal
Outcome: Harris (29) of Clongorey, Newbridge, originally received a sentence of four years and six months after pleading guilty to having drugs for sale or supply contrary to section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and two years and six months for money laundering, with these sentences suspended by Judge Dara Hayes at Naas Courthouse on 23 October 2023. Quashing the original sentence and moving on to resentencing, Mr Justice McCarthy said the sentencing judge was right to have imposed a sentence of four and a half years, but it was the court's opinion that the mitigating factors did not bring it into the scope of a wholly suspended sentence.