Courts / Mayo / Report
Convicted Drug Dealer Avoids Jail After 'Remarkable Turnaround'
Summary
A man from Castlerea in County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court following what the judge described as a remarkable turnaround in his life. Ernest Ashman, aged 39, pleaded guilty to possession of almost one kilogramme of cannabis, valued at approximately €20,000, for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, County Mayo on 3 October 2023. He was arrested following a traffic stop after gardaí observed his vehicle being driven erratically through a housing estate. Ashman was handed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of three years but reduced it to two years in light of mitigating factors, including Ashman's rehabilitation efforts. The court heard that Ashman has since trained in addiction counselling to Level 7 qualification standard, now works in a community centre, and remains drug-free. He has been instructed to comply with probation supervision for one year and continue mental health counselling.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted Drug Dealer Avoids Jail After 'Remarkable Turnaround'. Charges or matters: possessing almost a kilo of cannabis valued at just under €20,000 for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo on October 3, 2023; garda attention since. 'He has made a remarkable turnaround,' said Gda Folan, who agreed with the judge that Ashman was 'not the most professional drug dealer' and had drawn attention to himself. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 3, 2023 Incident
- 2025-10-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing almost a kilo of cannabis valued at just under €20,000 for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo on October 3, 2023; garda attention since. 'He has made a remarkable turnaround,' said Gda Folan, who agreed with the judge that Ashman was 'not the most professional drug dealer' and had drawn attention to himself (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Ashman, a father-of-six from The Meadows, Knockroe, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, was handed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Eoin Garavan set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this to two years on account of mitigating factors including what he said was Ashman's 'remarkable turnabout'.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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