Ciaran Wolverson given suspended sentence after threats from drug dealers

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ciaran Wolverson received a four-year sentence, suspended for four years, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally also ordered him to complete a further 12 months of probation supervision.

Wolverson pleaded guilty to permitting his home to be used for the sale or supply of controlled drugs. The proceedings were reported on 13 February 2020.

The court heard that Wolverson, then 53, came under pressure from local drug dealers after his mother died. He received a text saying houses in the area were being smashed up and his could be next.

After his arrest, Wolverson told gardaí that youths came to his Raheny home while he went into a back room. He said they mixed and bagged drugs and left him a small piece of heroin for his own use.

Gardaí searched the home on 5 October 2017 and recovered cocaine and heroin. The cocaine was valued at a little over €17,000 and the heroin at around €740.

John Berry BL, defending, said dealers had identified Wolverson as vulnerable after his mother’s death and that he lacked the resilience to say no. He said Wolverson’s family was now aware of the situation and the threats had not continued.

Judge Greally said she had previously placed Wolverson on probation for a year to test his commitment to addressing his addiction. She noted his positive engagement and took account of his plea, co-operation, previous drug dependence, family support, lack of reoffending and efforts to address his addiction.