Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for couple who stored over €230k worth of drugs after running up debts
Summary
Jason Whelan and Vivian Hanley, a couple with drug habits, were sentenced to four years in prison for possessing over €230,000 worth of drugs at their home in 2022. The court heard that the couple had accumulated debts and were under threat, leading them to store the drugs. Both pleaded guilty and cooperated with the investigation. The judge acknowledged their vulnerability and the duress they were under but emphasized the significant role they played in the drugs trade. The court considered their personal circumstances and the efforts they had made toward rehabilitation, resulting in a suspended sentence for the final two years. Hanley was allowed to defer her sentence to make arrangements for a relative in poor health, while Whelan was required to start his sentence immediately. The garda agreed that the couple were preyed upon by others in the drug world and that they were not the primary organizers of the drug trade.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for couple who stored over €230k worth of drugs after running up debts. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply at their home on April 20, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 20, 2022 Incident
- June 3 Adjournment
- 2026-05-19 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply at their home on April 20, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She handed both defendants a four-year sentence, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions including one year of post-release probation supervision. Defence counsel for both Hanley and Whelan asked the court to defer the sentence for two weeks to allow their clients to put their affairs in order.; She agreed to defer the imposition of Hanley's sentence until June 3 to allow her to make arrangements for the care of a relative, who is in poor health, and remanded her on bail until that date.
Defendant
Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply at their home on April 20, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She handed both defendants a four-year sentence, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions including one year of post-release probation supervision. Defence counsel for both Hanley and Whelan asked the court to defer the sentence for two weeks to allow their clients to put their affairs in order.; She agreed to defer the imposition of Hanley's sentence until June 3 to allow her to make arrangements for the care of a relative, who is in poor health, and remanded her on bail until that date.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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