Courts / Kildare / Report
Fully suspended sentence for €500k drugs and cash haul was too lenient, appeal court finds
Summary
The Court of Appeal found that the fully suspended sentence imposed on Mark Harris, a 29‑year‑old drug dealer, was too lenient and quashed the original four‑year‑six‑month sentence. Harris had been caught with over €500,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis and cash, and had pleaded guilty to drug supply and money‑laundering offences. The Court held that the circumstances did not justify a wholly suspended sentence and ordered a new sentence of four and a half years, with the final one and a half years suspended under the same conditions as before. The Court also quashed the suspended money‑laundering sentence, taking that charge into account in the resentencing. Harris was sent to jail today following the Court of Appeal's ruling.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Fully suspended sentence for €500k drugs and cash haul was too lenient, appeal court finds. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- 23 October 2023 Incident
- June 23, 2021 Incident
- 2024-10-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: Harris (29) of Clongorey, Newbridge, originally received a sentence of four years and six months after pleading guilty to having drugs for sale or supply contrary to section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and two years and six months for money laundering, with these sentences suspended by Judge Dara Hayes at Naas Courthouse on 23 October 2023. Quashing the original sentence and moving on to resentencing, Mr Justice McCarthy said the sentencing judge was right to have imposed a sentence of four and a half years, but it was the court's opinion that the mitigating factors did not bring it into the scope of a wholly suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Naas
- Naas Courthouse
Topics
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