Courts / Dublin / Report
'Incorrigible' drug dealer jumped into canal to avoid gardai
Summary
James Maher, 32, of Kilcronin Crescent, Clondalkin, was jailed for 32 months after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on 23 August 2020. While on bail, he was seen by Sergeant Peter Smith on patrol around the Grand Canal in Clondalkin, acting suspiciously and placing items from a ditch into a shopping bag on his bike. Maher ran off, threw a large bin bag into the canal, jumped in, retrieved the bag, and later threw it into a nearby field. The bag on his bike was recovered, containing cannabis worth €2,500, and he was found wet with cocaine worth €980 on him. The field search failed to recover the bin bag. Maher has 27 prior convictions, mainly for drug dealing, and was previously sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan. He is due for release on 20 May 2025.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Incorrigible' drug dealer jumped into canal to avoid gardai. Charges or matters: having cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on August 23, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 23, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 20, 2025 Incident
- 2023-01-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: having cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on August 23, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Maher was previously sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan for similar offences and is due for release on May 20, 2025. He acknowledged that Maher wants to change his life and wants to reform and rehabilitate in prison and "return to the community a better person". "Hopefully he will take those steps," Judge Nolan commented. "But he was involved in drug dealing and was pretty incorrigible at that time," Judge Nolan said before he sentenced Maher to 32 months in prison which he ordered to be served consecutive to the term he is already serving.
Places mentioned
- Kilcronin Crescent
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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