Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for man for who held heroin "under duress"
Summary
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Derek O'Connor, was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing 140 grammes of heroin worth €12,090, after pleading guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Connor, who cares for his double‑amputee father, claimed he held the drugs "under duress" because of a cannabis debt. Garda Gerry Smith reported that officers became suspicious when O'Connor was seen jumping fences and carrying a metallic object, later found to be a plastic bag containing heroin. He was arrested after dropping two packages into brambles. O'Connor had 26 prior convictions, including drug possession and traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his plea, noted he was not a major drug dealer, and imposed a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, effectively giving him a two‑year custodial term. The judge also highlighted the impact on families of accused persons.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man for who held heroin "under duress". Charges or matters: possessing 140 grammes of heroin worth €12,090 at Adamstown, Link Road, Clondalkin on October 7, 2014; the offence at an early stage. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 7, 2014 Incident
- 2016-02-12 Publication
Why: A Dublin man who cares for his double amputee father has been jailed for two years for holding €21,000 of heroin "under duress" because of a drug debt. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing 140 grammes of heroin worth €12,090 at Adamstown, Link Road, Clondalkin on October 7, 2014; the offence at an early stage (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She imposed a four year sentence with the final two suspended for two years.
Places mentioned
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