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Man who had €2.5 million ecstasy charge against him dropped is jailed for nine years for cannabis possession

Summary

Gary Byrne, aged 42, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for possession of €2.52 million worth of cannabis resin and herb, found in two Dublin lock‑ups. The prosecution had earlier dropped a charge of possession of €2.5 million worth of ecstasy after the Court of Appeal's Bederev judgement declared such bans unconstitutional. Byrne pleaded guilty in June 2013 at Rosemount Business Park and the North West Business Centre. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 12‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, citing that Byrne was not the owner of the drugs and was an addict. He had a prior conviction for stealing Rohypnol from a pharmaceutical firm. Garda evidence showed Byrne was under surveillance, had rented the lock‑ups, and admitted holding the drugs to repay debts and fund his addiction. The defence highlighted his family and work record, urging a lighter sentence. The final custodial term is nine years.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who had €2.5 million ecstasy charge against him dropped is jailed for nine years for cannabis possession. Charges or matters: possession of a total of €2.52 million worth of cannabis resin and cannabis herb at Rosemount Business Park in Ballycoolin and North West Business Centre in Blanchardstown in June 2013. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• June 2013 Incident
• June 4, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-03-19 Publication

Why: Tony McGillicuddy BL, for the DPP, said the change was because of the "Bederev Judgement" in which the appeal court issued a ruling that ecstasy and other drugs were unconstitutionally banned. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal Theft

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Read the original CNI report