Courts / Dublin / Report
Community service for man who escaped to US after being caught dealing heroin
Summary
Stephen Winders, aged 41, was caught in 2010 with 19 cannabis plants and a plastic bag of heroin worth €1,668, which he claimed were for personal use. He fled to the United States while on bail, entered a drug‑treatment programme and later returned to Ireland to register a homelessness charity. Gardaí discovered outstanding warrants and arrested him. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply. Judge Catherine Murphy suspended a two‑year sentence for three years, conditioned on 18 months of Probation Services engagement, and ordered 240 hours of community service. The case was adjourned in December with a potential for a suspended sentence pending a clean probation report. No jail time was imposed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Community service for man who escaped to US after being caught dealing heroin. Charges or matters: possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply at his then home in Ballymount, Dublin on October 14, 2010. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 14, 2010 Incident
- 2017-04-03 Publication
Why: The Dubliner was arrested last year when he went to obtain garda clearance in order to register a homelessness charity. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply at his then home in Ballymount, Dublin on October 14, 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She suspended a sentence of two years for three years on condition he engaged with the Probation Services for 18 months. She also ordered him to carry out 240 hours of community service.; Last December Judge Murphy adjourned the case and indicated she would consider a suspended sentence if there was an unblemished probation services report in court including clean drug tests.
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