Courts / Dublin / Report

Man avoids jail term for having over €100,000 worth of heroin

Date
2014-11-26
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A Sligo man has received a five-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of heroin worth over €100,000 with intent to supply. Anthony Fitzpatrick, aged 22 and resident in Tubbercurry, pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred at various locations in Dublin 8 on 5 March 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the sentence in full, imposing strict conditions requiring engagement with the Probation Service for one year. The judge warned that any breach would result in the full custodial term being activated. Fitzpatrick, who has no previous convictions, was noted to have relocated from Dublin to Sligo eighteen months prior and has settled into a stable environment, including college attendance. A co-accused, then aged 17, was also charged in connection with the seizure. The court heard that Fitzpatrick's involvement stemmed from pressure to settle a cannabis-related debt and that he is currently receiving treatment for addiction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man avoids jail term for having over €100,000 worth of heroin. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply at various locations in Dublin 8 on March 5, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: He told gardaí on arrest that he got involved in the offence because he was under pressure to pay a drug debt arising from his cannabis addiction. CNI source report

Case subjects

Anthony Fitzpatrick

Accused

Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply at various locations in Dublin 8 on March 5, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Ring sentenced Fitzpatrick to five years in prison but suspended it in full on strict conditions including that he engage with the Probation Service for a year. "If you get into trouble in the next five years I will have no option to put you in prison for five years," she warned Fitzpatrick after he entered into his bond.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
  • Teeling House
Residence
Incident

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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