Courts / Dublin / Report

Electrician who turned to drug dealing to pay his mortgage is jailed

Summary

Paul Keenan, 36, of Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after Gardaí seized bags of cocaine and cannabis at his Dublin home. The drugs, valued at €19,840 and €316 respectively, were found in a kitchen press, a bedroom drawer, and a weighing scale, along with a "tick list" and two mobile phones. Garda Gavin Curtin reported that Keenan also possessed €10,000 in cash, including a €5,300 envelope, a €1,000 roll, and a €4,325 envelope. Keenan admitted to using cocaine recreationally, which escalated as he fell into debt after losing his electrician job in June 2013. He claimed he owed €6,000 to drug dealers and sold an ounce a week for about €1,300. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on 24 April 2014. The court noted his prior 2003 conviction for drug dealing, for which he received a suspended five‑year sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Electrician who turned to drug dealing to pay his mortgage is jailed. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on April 24, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 24, 2014 Incident
• June 2013 Other
• 2015-12-16 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report