Courts / Limerick / Report

Dad who took heroin to relieve back pain gets suspended sentence for €200k drugs possession

Summary

Ronald Walsh, 61, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to possession of €215,000 of cocaine and cannabis herb for sale or supply at Heuston Station, Dublin, and St Patricks Road, Limerick, on 2 February 2013. He admitted carrying €140,000 worth of cocaine on a train to Dublin to pay off a drug debt. Walsh said he began taking heroin in his forties to relieve back pain after other treatments failed, and that he had been a controlled heroin addict for five years before the addiction spiralled. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Desmond Hogan, gave Walsh a ten‑year suspended sentence, noting the drug value and the lack of custodial purpose. He will be supervised by probation for 12 months and must undergo drug counselling.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad who took heroin to relieve back pain gets suspended sentence for €200k drugs possession. Charges or matters: possession of a total of €215,000 of cocaine and cannabis herb for sale or supply at Heuston Station, Dublin and St Patricks Road, Limerick on February 2, 2013. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• February 2, 2013 Incident
• 2015-01-16 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

• Manager at global IT firm denies company 'lied' about position of former Irish employee
• High Court refuses to surrender Limerick man wanted for alleged human trafficking in Greece
• Tipperary man admits attempted murder
• Volunteer who said he was sacked for warning Church officials of 'rogue' relic traders can't pursue case, WRC rules
• Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
• 'You've to get the morning after pill': man who was 18 when he raped girl (15) gets seven years

Read the original CNI report