Courts / Dublin / Report

DPP appeals suspended sentence for man who delivered €122k in cannabis

Date
2018-07-12

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Brian O'Grady, 32, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis resin for sale, valued at €122,000, after agreeing to deliver 20 kg to help pay his step‑brother's €2,000 drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence, departing from the mandatory 10‑year term, citing O'Grady's low moral culpability and his intent to protect family. The Director of Public Prosecutions seeks a review, arguing the sentence is unduly lenient and that the judge erred in suspending the whole term. Counsel for O'Grady highlighted his upbringing, employment history, and family dynamics as mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Gardaí surveillance linked O'Grady to two men from Cork who were later arrested; O'Grady admitted the delivery but refused to name the men. O'Grady has six prior convictions and is a qualified electronic technician. The other two men received seven‑year and two‑year sentences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: DPP appeals suspended sentence for man who delivered €122k in cannabis. Charges or matters: one count of possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply at Aldi car park in Finglas on February 12 2016. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

February 12 2016 Incident
2018-07-12 Publication

Why: A Dublin man who was pressured into delivering more than €120,000 worth of cannabis in order to pay off his brother's drug debt must wait to hear whether his wholly suspended sentence will be found too lenient. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian O'Grady

Defendant

Charges: one count of possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply at Aldi car park in Finglas on February 12 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: O'Grady's father broke down in tears when Judge Martin Nolan said he would take the "unusual step" of departing from the mandatory minimum 10-year jail term and hand down a wholly suspended five-year sentence. That was misguided." The Director of Public Prosecutions are seeking a review of O'Grady's wholly suspended five year sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".