Courts / Dublin / Report
Heroin addict tells court he bought drugs in bulk to avoid having to steal
Summary
In Tallaght District Court, 45‑year‑old Norman Purfield pleaded guilty to simple possession of heroin under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act after a police stop on Old Bawn Road. He was found with 6.8 g of heroin, worth about €952, and claimed it was for personal use, bought in bulk to avoid theft. Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the original charge of possession for sale or supply, citing insufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt, and convicted him of simple possession. She imposed a three‑month sentence, suspended for 12 months, conditional on Purfield attending a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. Purfield, who has 42 previous convictions including three drug‑related offences, was warned that failure to attend treatment could lead to the sentence being imposed. The judge noted the lack of weighing scales, paraphernalia, or evidence of supply, and accepted Purfield's explanation and willingness to engage with treatment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Heroin addict tells court he bought drugs in bulk to avoid having to steal. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 1, 2022 Incident
- 2025-06-18 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Gardaí had also said the defendant had been fully co-operative and now accepted that the drugs were likely for personal use. "That's still quite a lot," the judge remarked, before convicting him of simple possession. "But I accept your explanation and your willingness to engage with treatment." She imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition that Purfield attend a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. The court heard that Purfield has 42 previous convictions, including three for drug-related offences. "You'll have to sign the bond and stay out of trouble," Judge McNamara warned. "If you don't attend, the gardaí can bring you back in and the sentence will be imposed."
Places mentioned
- Tallaght
- Tallaght District Court
- Old Bawn Road
- Tallaght
- being brought to Tallaght Garda Station
- Tallaght
Topics
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