Courts / Dublin / Report

'Self-rehabilitated' criminal was assaulted and abducted in run-up to heroin bust

Summary

Patrick Shields, aged 33, received a five‑year suspended sentence after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that he and his father were assaulted and abducted before Gardaí discovered heroin in his home. The court noted that Gardaí had been alerted to a credible threat to Shields' life following a search of his Clongriffin residence, where €34,044 of heroin was found. Shields had previously fled to the UK after a bench warrant but returned in 2020, after which he took responsibility for the drugs. He has 152 prior convictions in Ireland, including drug offences and traffic offences, and nine in the UK. The judge accepted that Shields had been targeted by a gang and that his family suffered collateral damage, but also acknowledged his self‑rehabilitation and current employment as a hospital janitor. The sentence was suspended in full to encourage continued rehabilitation, with the five years to be served if a relapse occurs. Patrick Shields pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Self-rehabilitated' criminal was assaulted and abducted in run-up to heroin bust. Charges or matters: possession of heroin for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 6, 2013 Incident
• 2022-05-31 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report