Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who was caught with drugs five years ago gets suspended term

Date
2026-06-12
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A man who was found with €5,000 worth of drugs in his home five years ago has received a suspended 18-month sentence. Sean Hassett, who was 24 at the time, immediately admitted to the drugs when gardaí searched his home in June 2021. However, due to delays in processing the case, he was only charged this year. During the time between the search and his charge, Hassett moved to Spain, removed himself from negative peer groups, and turned his life around. He provided clean urine analysis to the court to prove he no longer uses drugs and is now engaged to be married. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Hassett had not re-offended since 2021 and had fully cooperated with the investigation. She acknowledged his efforts to change his life and suspended his sentence for three years on certain conditions. The drugs involved included ketamine, cannabis, and cocaine, with a total value of just over €5,100. Hassett has four previous convictions, including one for a road traffic offence and three for drug possession. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who was caught with drugs five years ago gets suspended term. Charges or matters: two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his address on June 1, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: He told gardaí he had a debt and was holding the drugs in order to help pay this off, Sergeant Mark Walsh told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Defendant

Charges: two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his address on June 1, 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: A man who was caught with €5,000 worth of drugs in his home five years ago, but was only charged this year, has been given a suspended 18-month sentence. Judge Crowe said a suspended sentence was warranted in this case.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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