Courts / Dublin / Report
Pandemic-hit hotel worker had €80k in cannabis delivered to own address
Summary
Eoin Claxton, a 37‑year‑old hotel worker from Rathgar, was arrested after a Garda posing as a courier delivered a parcel containing 4.8 kg of cannabis herb to his home. The package, valued at €79,824, had been intercepted by customs and was addressed to a Jackie O'Shaughnessy from a Molly Maguire. Claxton, who had 36 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 14 December 2020. He explained that he had been laid off during the pandemic, had accrued a gambling debt of €8,000‑€9,500, and accepted the drug deal to pay it off. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months in custody, suspended for three years, and remanded him on bail until July. The court noted his employment, family responsibilities, and remorse, but emphasised the seriousness of the offence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pandemic-hit hotel worker had €80k in cannabis delivered to own address. Charges or matters: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his home address on December 14, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 14, 2020 Incident
- 2024-06-07 Publication
Why: She accepted he got involved in this offending because of a gambling debt and that he is now remorseful. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his home address on December 14, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was today jailed for 18 months. Claxton took the stand and told his sentence hearing that he was laid off during the pandemic, was isolated from family and friends and started gambling "recklessly".; She said she was conscious of the family difficulties Claxton was facing and as a result, she adjourned the sentence for four weeks to allow him to put arrangements in place.
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