Courts / Dublin / Report

Premises used for 'drug dealing operation'

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 23 June 2021, a man named Justine Byrne, aged 50, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. Byrne, who lives in Clarinda Park East, Dun Laoghaire, admitted to holding and cutting the drugs at his premises after being "prevailed upon" to do so because of debt. Garda Shane McGrath reported that on 5 September 2020, police searched Byrne's home, finding €84,000 worth of cocaine (valued at €82,090) and €2,300 worth of heroin, along with a cutting agent, a hydraulic press, weighing scales and drug‑sale packages. Byrne had a prior assault conviction and had not attracted police attention since the offence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Byrne's admissions and mitigation but ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary, sentencing him to three years in prison. The court noted Byrne was at the lowest level of the drug‑dealing operation. Justine Byrne pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Premises used for 'drug dealing operation'. Charges or matters: the possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his address in Dublin on September 5, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 5, 2020 Incident
• 2021-06-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report