Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for "decent men" who got involved in €1.1m drug deal
Summary
Three men – John Darcy (50), Patrick Riordan (63) and Thomas McAllister (63) – were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for transporting €1.1 million worth of MDMA and heroin in 2016. Judge Martin Nolan described them as "kind and responsible" family men who made a "grave misjudgement" under pressure to settle drug debts. Darcy and Riordan received four‑year prison terms; McAllister received a three‑year term, a lesser sentence because he was not involved to pay his own debt but to help a relative. The court heard the drugs were seized from a van, a truck and a house, with street values of €420,000, €260,000 and €460,000 respectively. All three pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on 30 November 2016. The judge noted each man's personal circumstances, including debts, duress, and health issues, but imposed the sentences as stated.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for "decent men" who got involved in €1.1m drug deal. Charges or matters: possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on November 30, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 30, 2016 Incident
- 1969 to 1993 Other
- 2018-01-24 Publication
Why: The court heard McAllister committed the offence in order to pay off the debt of a close relative. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on November 30, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He sentenced Darcy and Riordan to four years in prison and McAllister to three years in prison.
Convicted Person
Charges: possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on November 30, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He sentenced Darcy and Riordan to four years in prison and McAllister to three years in prison.
Convicted Person
Charges: possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on November 30, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He sentenced Darcy and Riordan to four years in prison and McAllister to three years in prison. He imposed a lesser sentence on McAllister as he noted that unlike the other two men, McAllister did not get involved in the operation to pay off his own drug debt.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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