Courts / Kildare / Report
Jail for man paid €50 to drive friend to €560k heroin deal
Summary
Shane Percival, 24, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at the Aldi supermarket, Newlands Cross, Co Dublin, on December 9, 2015. Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court described the act as a "reprehensible error of judgement" but noted Percival's good character and lack of previous convictions. The judge acknowledged that a custodial sentence would cause hardship to Percival's family, as he helps care for his intellectually disabled sister, yet stated he had to mark the seriousness of the crime involving €560,000 worth of heroin. The sentence was imposed for deterrence and punishment. Percival had been paid €50 to drive his co-accused, Gareth Prior, to the location. Gardaí seized four kilos of heroin from the vehicle. Prior, 36, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was previously jailed for 12 years with the final three years suspended. Michael White, 42, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was jailed for six years with the final three years suspended. The court heard that Percival believed he was driving his friend to pick up cannabis and was not a target of the surveillance operation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man paid €50 to drive friend to €560k heroin deal. Charges or matters: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at Aldi supermarket, Newlands Cross, Co Dublin on December 9, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 9, 2015 Incident
- 2018-01-19 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Outcome: Prior (36) of Ramblers Court, Celbridge, Co Kildare, was previously jailed for 12 years with the final three years suspended, while White (42) of Moorefield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin was jailed for six years with the final three years suspended.
Defendant
Outcome: Prior (36) of Ramblers Court, Celbridge, Co Kildare, was previously jailed for 12 years with the final three years suspended, while White (42) of Moorefield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin was jailed for six years with the final three years suspended.
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at Aldi supermarket, Newlands Cross, Co Dublin on December 9, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A Kildare man who was paid €50 to drive his friend to a €560,000 heroin deal in a "reprehensible error of judgement" has been jailed for two years. He also noted a custodial sentence would be hard on Percival's family, as he helps care for his intellectually disabled sister.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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