Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for father-of-two who agreed to bag over €280k in heroin for a "bit of smoke"
Summary
Edward Maher, a 31-year-old father-of-two from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €286,020 worth of heroin. The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing the 2.04kg cache at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot, on December 19, 2016. Prosecution evidence indicated Maher agreed to bag the drugs for €100 and a "bit of smoke," though he claimed he did not know the full extent of the operation. Gardaí discovered him in a back shed with the drugs, scales, and a blender during a raid. While Maher has 12 previous minor road traffic convictions, his defense counsel, Luigi Rea BL, argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his lack of serious offending history, minor role in the enterprise, and resolved cannabis addiction. Judge Martin Nolan rejected the request for a wholly suspended sentence, deeming the crime too serious. The judge noted that although Maher was near the bottom of the criminal chain, he committed a "grave error of judgement" by taking the chance. Consequently, Maher was jailed for three and a half years. The court record confirms the procedural stage as sentencing, with the guilty plea and the resulting custodial sentence as the finalised disposal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for father-of-two who agreed to bag over €280k in heroin for a "bit of smoke". Charges or matters: possessing €286,020 of heroin at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot on December 19, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 19, 2016 Incident
- 2017-11-28 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing €286,020 of heroin at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot on December 19, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He asked the judge to consider a fully suspended sentence given Maher's lack of serious offending and his minor role in the drugs enterprise. He noted Mr Rea's submission for a wholly suspended sentence but said he couldn't accede to this as the crime was too serious. "(Maher) took a chance and committed a grave error of judgement", the judge said.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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