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Jail for man caught with drugs at home twice in same month
Summary
A 24‑year‑old man, Mark O'Neill of Knockmore Drive, Tallaght, was found guilty of two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply, with a combined value of €22,620, after being caught with drugs and dealing paraphernalia at his home twice in May 2022. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and had seven prior minor traffic convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted O'Neill's early plea, good work history and support structure, but also his misbehaviour on both occasions. The judge imposed a global sentence of three years' imprisonment, refusing to suspend any part of it. Gardaí had obtained search warrants on 3 and 26 May 2022, finding cannabis, cocaine, heroin, weighing scales, mobile phones, and cash. O'Neill was released on bail after the first search and was arrested after the second. He had completed a drug awareness course and had a clean urine analysis from Tallaght Addiction Service.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man caught with drugs at home twice in same month. Charges or matters: two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply with a combined value of €22,620 on two separate occasions in May 2022 at his address. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2022 Incident
- May 3, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 26, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-03-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply with a combined value of €22,620 on two separate occasions in May 2022 at his address (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: However, he said that O'Neill had "misbehaved on two occasions and deserves a prison sentence" before going on to impose a global sentence of three years. Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, SC, defending, asked Judge Martin Nolan if he would consider suspending any part of this sentence, to which the judge replied: "I think he can change his own life and does not need the supervision of the court to do so." Carol Doherty BL, prosecuting, told the court that gardaí obtained a search warrant for O'Neill's address and searched the home on May 3, 2022.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- The house
Topics
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