Courts / Dublin / Report
€70k worth of drugs thrown into neighbour's garden during raid
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old Greg Gilligan of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing cannabis and a small quantity of crack cocaine. The drugs, valued at €71,695, were found in a black hold‑all bag that Gilligan had thrown into a neighbour's garden after a Garda raid on 24 August 2016. Gilligan admitted he had been storing the drugs for a friend who was a drug addict; when the drugs were lost, he incurred a €2,500 debt. He pleaded guilty, and his counsel argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his caring nature, charitable work for homeless people, and lack of prior convictions. The judge accepted his remorse, noted his drug‑free status, and highlighted his low risk of re‑offending, but imposed the two‑year custodial term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: €70k worth of drugs thrown into neighbour's garden during raid. Charges or matters: possessing cannabis and a small quantity of crack cocaine at his home on August 24, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 24, 2016 Incident
- 2019-02-25 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing cannabis and a small quantity of crack cocaine at his home on August 24, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Gilligan had been storing the drugs for a friend and that when the drugs were lost, he had been lumbered with a debt. "He's a mature man and this was bad judgement on his part," said Judge Nolan, adding that counsel for Gilligan had presented an "impressive mitigation" on his behalf. Judge Nolan sentenced Gilligan to two years in prison.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Gilligan's house
Topics
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