Courts / Dublin / Report

Cocaine dealing taxi driver avoids jail, urged to take 'considerable chance'

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 June 2023, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old taxi driver Richard Askin to a three‑year suspended prison term for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Askin had pleaded guilty to the offence, which stemmed from a May 2021 Garda search of his home that uncovered 97.3 g of cocaine, a Nokia phone and weighing scales. Garda surveillance had recorded Askin handing a package to a cyclist on 29 April 2021 and to a known cocaine user two days later. Askin, who has seven prior traffic convictions, denied any trouble with Gardaí and claimed he was a low‑level dealer for another individual to service a drug debt. Defence counsel highlighted his addiction and lack of prior similar convictions. Judge Nolan warned that a repeat offence would result in custodial imprisonment and urged Askin to take the "considerable chance" he had been given.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cocaine dealing taxi driver avoids jail, urged to take 'considerable chance'. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine for sale or supply at the same address on May 6, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 6, 2021 Incident
• April 29, 2021 Incident
• 2023-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report