Courts / Dublin / Report
Suspended sentence for boxing coach who had serious drugs charges against him dropped following appeal court judgement
Summary
Darren Snee, a 25‑year‑old boxing coach from Palmerstown, pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine. A Court of Appeal ruling declared ecstasy and other drugs unconstitutionally banned, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw the ecstasy charge. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for the remaining cannabis (worth €819) and cocaine (valued €399) offences. Snee had previously been convicted of burglary. At the sentencing hearing, Garda John McWeeney presented evidence of Snee's drug dealings, including six bags of cocaine, a bag of rock cocaine hidden in a can of Coors Light, 24 deals of cannabis, €2,260 in cash, a digital weighing scale, and a black drum containing 19 bags of MDMA. Snee claimed he was holding the drugs for others and that the cash was personal gifts. His defence, led by Pieter Le Vert BL, highlighted his reduced cannabis use and future aspirations in architecture and sports.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for boxing coach who had serious drugs charges against him dropped following appeal court judgement. Charges or matters: possessing ecstasy worth €17,000 for sale or supply hours before the Court of Appeal issued a judgement which ruled that a range of drugs, including ecstasy, were legal as they were unconstitutionally banned by the government; possession of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy, for sale or supply at his home on November 18, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 18, 2013 Adjournment
- March 10 Adjournment
- Christmas Other
- 2015-03-27 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possessing ecstasy worth €17,000 for sale or supply hours before the Court of Appeal issued a judgement which ruled that a range of drugs, including ecstasy, were legal as they were unconstitutionally banned by the government; possession of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy, for sale or supply at his home on November 18, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan gave Snee a two and a half year suspended sentence for the remaining charges of possessing cannabis worth €819 and cocaine valued at €399. After the guilty plea on March 10 last, Judge Nolan remanded Snee in custody pending sentence and refused to release him after his lawyers found out about the appeal court ruling hours later.; After the guilty plea on March 10 last, Judge Nolan remanded Snee in custody pending sentence and refused to release him after his lawyers found out about the appeal court ruling hours later.
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