Courts / Dublin / Report

'Hardworking' electrician with no priors avoids jail over €60k drugs find

Date
2024-12-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Sam Collins, a 30-year-old electrician from Sandyford, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply following an incident on August 26, 2023, at Charlestown Place, Finglas. Gardaí discovered approximately €58,879 worth of drugs during a search of his vehicle and home after he was observed at the location. The court heard Collins was storing the drugs for a third party and that he had no previous convictions. Defence counsel highlighted his mental health difficulties at the time and noted his otherwise solid work history and family circumstances. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence, fully suspended, citing exceptional circumstances including Collins' early guilty plea, clean record, and unlikely prospect of reoffending.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Hardworking' electrician with no priors avoids jail over €60k drugs find. Charges or matters: the possession of drugs for sale or supply on August 26, 2023, at Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 26, 2023 Incident
2024-12-20 Publication

Case subjects

Sam Collins

Defendant

Charges: the possession of drugs for sale or supply on August 26, 2023, at Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan said he believed that this case fell into the "exceptional circumstance range" and he sentenced Collins to four and a half years in prison, which he suspended in full.