Courts / Dublin / Report

Man caught with €2.8 million in drugs was "small fish" in operation, defence lawyers submit

Date
2016-11-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Joseph Hickey, 42, was found with more than €2.8 million worth of cocaine and heroin in his possession. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. Garda Stephen Connor explained that undercover officers were surveilling a carpark on Greenhills Road when Hickey arrived in a grey Fiat. He parked beside a co‑accused, and the two men exchanged bags that were later seized. The seized drugs included 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg, €1,957,000) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg, €896,000), totalling €2.85 million. Hickey's co‑accused was charged with drug and firearm offences and received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended. Hickey had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and was described by his defence as a "small fish" who did not know the drugs' value. He has since undergone residential treatment for addiction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man caught with €2.8 million in drugs was "small fish" in operation, defence lawyers submit. Charges or matters: possessing drugs with a value of over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on October 28, 2015; drugs and firearm offences and he was sentenced last July to seven years in jail with two years suspended, the court heard. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 28, 2015 Incident
November 30 Adjournment
2016-11-16 Publication

Case subjects

Joseph Hickey

Accused

Charges: possessing drugs with a value of over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on October 28, 2015; drugs and firearm offences and he was sentenced last July to seven years in jail with two years suspended, the court heard (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter for sentencing on November 30.