Courts / Dublin / Report
Man has jail term for possessing €2.5 million worth of cannabis cut by 18 months on appeal
Summary
Gary Byrne, 42, of Belcamp Gardens, Coolock, was sentenced in 2015 to 12 years' imprisonment for possessing €2.5 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at two lock‑ups in Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin and North West Business Centre, Blanchardstown. The final three years of that sentence were suspended, leaving an operative term of nine years. Byrne appealed on the basis that mitigating factors had not been considered. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to 12 years with the final four‑and‑a‑half years suspended, reducing the net jail term to seven‑and‑a‑half years. He was required to post a €100 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour while in custody and for three years after release. The appeal was granted on the grounds that Byrne's homelessness, depression, suicidal ideation and drug addiction were not adequately weighed in the original sentencing. Gary Byrne pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man has jail term for possessing €2.5 million worth of cannabis cut by 18 months on appeal. Charges or matters: possessing the drug for sale or supply at two lock-ups in Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin and North West Business Centre, Blanchardstown on two occasions in June 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 2013 Incident
- March 19, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-12-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possessing the drug for sale or supply at two lock-ups in Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin and North West Business Centre, Blanchardstown on two occasions in June 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with the final three years suspended by Judge Patricia Ryan on March 19, 2015. Byrne successfully appealed his sentence today on grounds that a number of mitigating factors did not appear to have been taken into account by the judge and accordingly, the Court of Appeal re-sentenced him to 12 years in prison with the final four-and-a-half years suspended.
Places mentioned
- Belcamp Gardens
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Rosemount Business Park
Topics
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