Courts / Dublin / Report

Businessman had cannabis 'foisted on him' by drug dealers

Summary

Joseph O'Brien, a 50-year-old businessman from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to the charge after gardaí discovered 7.5kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of €45,810, in his camper van during a surveillance operation on February 7, 2019. The court heard that O'Brien had gone to meet drug dealers to intervene regarding a young man's significant drug debt. Judge Melanie Greally noted that the dealers allegedly "foisted" the package on him and threatened him not to dispose of the drugs. While acknowledging the case was unusual and involved an otherwise respectable family man, the judge described his actions as foolhardy but did not believe he intended to hold the drugs. Taking mitigating factors into consideration, including his status as a pro-social community member and the impact of the pandemic on his catering business, Judge Greally set a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment. This sentence was suspended on the condition that O'Brien keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Businessman had cannabis 'foisted on him' by drug dealers. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 7, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-10-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report