Courts / Cork / Report
"No question" of sentence reduction for "professional drug dealer"
Summary
Declan Harris, 59, pleaded guilty to possessing €2,830 worth of heroin at the Dunkettle Interchange on 2 February 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five years imprisonment on 23 July 2017. Harris appealed the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, in a decision delivered by President Mr Justice Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, held that there was "no question" of a reduction. The court considered whether the sentence should be increased but ultimately declined to intervene. The judges noted Harris's significant prior record, including an eight‑year sentence for a previous offence, and described him as a "professional" drug dealer with a calculated operation. Harris remains in Loughan House open prison, and the Circuit Court sentence was left in place.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "No question" of sentence reduction for "professional drug dealer". Charges or matters: possessing €2,830 worth of heroin at the Dunkettle Interchange on February 2, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 2, 2016 Incident
- July 23, 2017 Incident
- 2018-07-09 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possessing €2,830 worth of heroin at the Dunkettle Interchange on February 2, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on July 23, 2017. In deciding not to intervene, he said the court had regard to a number of issues including a "glowing" prison governor's report and the fact that Harris would have to be sentenced as of today's date.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Cork
- Cork Circuit Criminal Court
- Washington Street
- Loughan House
Topics
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