Courts / Dublin / Report

"Small fish" jailed for five years over €2.8m heroin and cocaine bust

Date
2016-11-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

Joseph Hickey, aged 42, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing drugs worth over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. The court found he was a "small fish" in a larger drug operation and had no knowledge of the drugs' full value, which was €2.85 million. Hickey's involvement was motivated by a drug debt, and he had a history of chronic alcohol and cocaine addiction. He had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and had received residential treatment for his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, resulting in a five‑year custodial term. The case was part of an undercover operation that seized 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg) from Hickey's vehicle. The co‑accused was also charged with drug and firearm offences and received a similar suspended sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Small fish" jailed for five years over €2.8m heroin and cocaine bust. 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
2016-11-30 Publication

Case subjects

Joseph Hickey

Defendant

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: She imposed a seven year sentence with the final two years suspended.