Courts / Dublin / Report
'Act of desperation' saw man agree to hold drugs to pay for father's funeral
Summary
Stephen Berrigan, 43, of St Mark's Crescent, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply with a value in excess of €13,000 at his address on 25 August 2018. He agreed to hold over €178,000 of heroin and cannabis in two vans parked in his driveway after his father's funeral bill of €7,000 left him in financial distress. Garda Dominic Downing obtained a search warrant and found plastic bags containing two bricks of heroin and three packs of herbal cannabis in the vans; no drugs were found inside Berrigan's home. Berrigan had previously refused to hold drugs but agreed after his father's illness and subsequent death in July 2019. He had no prior convictions and was working as a delivery man for a small bakery. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation on 23 February.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Act of desperation' saw man agree to hold drugs to pay for father's funeral. Charges or matters: possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply with a value in excess of €13,000 at his address on August 25, 2018. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- August 25, 2018 Incident
- July 2019 Incident
- February 23 Adjournment
- 2020-12-03 Publication
Why: A father-of-two agreed to hold over €178,000 of heroin and cannabis because he needed money to pay for his father's funeral, a court has heard. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply with a value in excess of €13,000 at his address on August 25, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation on February 23, next.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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