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Jail for man who held drugs to pay off debt
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Brennan, aged 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €80,000 worth of cannabis herb and cocaine. Gardaí seized the drugs from Brennan's flat after a drug search, discovering €17,339 of cocaine and €63,600 of cannabis herb. Brennan claimed he held the drugs to repay an estimated €23,000 debt to third parties, stating he could not provide information about those parties. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb at his former Ranelagh Road address and possession for sale or supply of cocaine at Grand Parade, Dublin 6, on 25 March 2016. Brennan, who now resides in Drogheda, has one prior conviction. Judge Martin Nolan noted Brennan's addiction and the influence of "dangerous individuals," describing him as the "author of his own misfortune," and imposed the three‑year sentence. The court did not consider any subsequent rehabilitation or community work in determining the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who held drugs to pay off debt. Charges or matters: possession of the cannabis herb at that address and possession for sale or supply of cocaine at Grand Parade, Dublin 6 on March 25, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 25, 2016 Incident
- 2017-03-30 Publication
Why: A man caught holding €80,000 of cannabis herb and cocaine in order to repay a drug debt has been jailed for three years. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of the cannabis herb at that address and possession for sale or supply of cocaine at Grand Parade, Dublin 6 on March 25, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said the parties involved in drugs were "not the most savoury" and by his actions Brennan had placed himself under obligation to "dangerous individuals." Judge Nolan noted "glowing" testimonials before the court but said Brennan had been the "author of his own misfortune." He imposed a three year sentence.
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