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'Extremely vulnerable' maths proofreader caught with €60k in cannabis gets suspended sentence
Summary
Barry O'Driscoll, a 40‑year‑old maths book proofreader from Dublin, was caught with over €60,000 worth of cannabis and €20,000 in proceeds of crime. Gardaí seized nearly €40,000 of cannabis in a carpark and later found an additional €19,352 of cannabis, LSD tablets and €19,000 in cash at his home. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and one count of handling the proceeds of crime. O'Driscoll has no prior convictions. He is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, autism spectrum and ADHD, conditions that contributed to his social difficulties and substance use. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his full cooperation, clean urine tests, charity work and low re‑offending risk, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years for the drug possession counts and two years for the proceeds of crime count. The sentence is wholly suspended, reflecting his vulnerability and rehabilitation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Extremely vulnerable' maths proofreader caught with €60k in cannabis gets suspended sentence. Charges or matters: two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and one count of handling the proceeds of crime at his home on April 15, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 15, 2021 Incident
- March 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-11-25 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and one count of handling the proceeds of crime at his home on April 15, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two and a half years for the two counts of possessing drugs for sale and supply and two years for handling the proceeds of crime. "Having carefully considered all of the evidence and seeing that the accused is a very vulnerable person who is now contributing considerably to society, his rehabilitation, his medical misdiagnosis for many years and that he has now been put on the correct and effective medication, it is the court's view to impose a wholly suspended sentence," the judge said.
Places mentioned
- Cloonlara Square
- Phoenix Park
- Dublin
- Blackhorse Avenue
Topics
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