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Drugs offender busted after clothes with his name on them found next to cocaine
Summary
Daniel O'Neill, 27, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 18, 2020, at Malachi Road, Dublin 7. Prosecution evidence indicated that Garda Deirdre McDonald observed O'Neill and another male behaving suspiciously near a car. After the men fled, gardai seized the vehicle, where they recovered 400g of cocaine valued at over €29,600, €300 in cash, O'Neill's passport, and a gym bag containing clothes with his name. O'Neill was arrested in October 2021. Defence counsel Garnet Orange SC acknowledged O'Neill's 31 previous convictions, including 16 drug-related offences and a five-year suspended sentence imposed in 2014 for possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. While noting O'Neill's difficult background and addiction issues, the judge rejected the defence application for a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the aggravating features balanced out the mitigating factors, noting O'Neill's involvement in the lower levels of drug transport and dealing. The court imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, backdated to January 23, when O'Neill entered custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drugs offender busted after clothes with his name on them found next to cocaine. Charges or matters: one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 18, 2020 at Malachi Road, Dublin 7. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 18, 2020 Incident
- June 17, 2020 Incident
- October 2021 Incident
- January 2023 Incident
- January 23 Other
- 2023-10-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 18, 2020 at Malachi Road, Dublin 7 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was given a five-year suspended sentence in 2014 in relation to a charge of possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of three years and nine months backdated to January 23 when O'Neill entered custody.
Places mentioned
- Dolphin house
- South Circular Road
- Malachi Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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