Courts / Galway / Report
Man jailed and ordered to leave country over €40k drugs haul
Summary
Geraldo Maklekas, 24, was sentenced at Galway Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and a money laundering offence at his address on February 26, 2024. Judge Brian O'Callaghan imposed a custodial sentence, noting that Maklekas engaged in drug dealing for personal benefit shortly after arriving in Ireland. The judge determined that Maklekas's culpability was well above mid-range, citing aggravating factors such as the nature of the criminal activity and the absence of duress. Mitigating factors included his youth, status as a first-time offender, signed pleas, and cooperation with the Garda investigation and Probation Service. Although the Probation Service assessed him as a low risk of re-offending, allowing the court to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, the judge stated that a custodial sentence was necessary. He set a headline sentence of six and a half years, reduced this to four and a half years, and suspended the final 18 months for three years. Consequently, Maklekas will serve two and a half years in custody. The court ordered that he exit the state within 72 hours of his release from prison and prohibited him from returning to Ireland for a period of 10 years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed and ordered to leave country over €40k drugs haul. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply as well as a money laundering offence at his address on February 26, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 26, 2024 Incident
- 2025-11-25 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply as well as a money laundering offence at his address on February 26, 2024 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: But he said a custodial sentence had to be imposed. He suspended the final 18 months of the sentence for three years and ordered that Maklekas exit the state within 72 hours of his release from prison.
Places mentioned
Topics
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