Courts / Dublin / Report

Youth worker caught with cocaine in his underwear avoids jail

Date
2017-01-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Andrew O'Hara, a 36‑year‑old former drug addict turned community youth worker, was found guilty of possessing drugs for sale or supply after Gardaí intercepted him carrying a package of cocaine worth €17,339, some of which was discovered in his underwear. He had been paid €300 to deliver the drugs to an address in Charlemont Street, Dublin 2, and claimed he did not know the recipient or the quantity. O'Hara pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended four‑year term by Judge Melanie Greally, who described the case as "unusual" and noted his previous rehabilitation, low risk of reoffending, lack of criminal history, and recent fatherhood. He has two prior traffic convictions and had previously turned his life around after a 2002 addiction, earning a degree in community care and working with disadvantaged youth. He expressed deep regret and pledged to remain drug‑free. The case remains pending for the other arrested individual.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Youth worker caught with cocaine in his underwear avoids jail. Charges or matters: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 25, 2016 Incident
2017-01-17 Publication

Case subjects

Andrew O'Hara

Defendant

Charges: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Handing down a suspended four-year sentence, Judge Melanie Greally said it was an "unusual case" in which O'Hara had "applied himself in an impressive way to help others in the inner city" who faced similar problems to his. After the sentence was handed down, O'Hara said "thank you" to the judge before hugging family members outside court.