Courts / Dublin / Report

Ex-army man avoids jail for holding drugs for addict brother

Summary

George Radford, a 33‑year‑old former army soldier, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply at his home on 2 October 2021. He admitted he had held just under two kilograms of cocaine, valued at €137,690, in a safe found in a shed on his property after a Garda search. Radford said he had brought the drugs in to help his younger brother, who was in debt over drugs, and that no one else knew about the drugs. He had resigned from the army when the matter came to light. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as "exceptional", noting that the problems were created by Radford's brother, and imposed a four‑year suspended sentence with a period of good behaviour, stating Radford was unlikely to appear again before the courts.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Ex-army man avoids jail for holding drugs for addict brother. Charges or matters: possessing the drugs for sale or supply at his home on October 2, 2021; the offence, bringing his 15-year career to an end. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 2, 2021 Incident
• 2023-02-08 Publication

Why: A former soldier who agreed to hold drugs in order to alleviate his brother's drug debt has been given a four-year suspended sentence. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report