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Dublin man pressurised to hold drugs
Summary
Jason Kearns, a 30‑year‑old new father from Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 61 g of cocaine worth €4,300 and 1,515 g of cannabis herb worth €30,300, which he had stored at his home on 20 March 2015. He had two prior road‑traffic convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence and ordering a probation report, considered the case "borderline" and decided whether the facts were exceptional enough to impose a suspended sentence. She accepted Kearns' full cooperation with the Gardaí and his minor prior convictions, and imposed a five‑year sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions. Garda Catriona Gallagher reported that the drugs were found after a tip‑off and a search of Kearns' home. Kearns said he stored the drugs because of a debt his brother had incurred after drugs he had been holding were seized by the Gardaí.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin man pressurised to hold drugs. Charges or matters: possession of 61 grams of cocaine worth €4,300 and 1,515 grams of cannabis herb worth €30,300, at his home on March 20, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 20, 2015 Adjournment
- 2016-05-09 Publication
Why: A new father who was put under pressure to hold €35,000 worth of drugs because of threats made against his brother has avoided a jail term. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of 61 grams of cocaine worth €4,300 and 1,515 grams of cannabis herb worth €30,300, at his home on March 20, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She said the question for the court was whether the facts of the case were "exceptional enough" to allow her to impose a suspended sentence. The judge said it was "a borderline case" but accepted that Kearns had fully co-operated with the gardaí and had minor previous convictions before she imposed a five year sentence which she suspended in full on strict conditions.; Judge Melanie Greally had previously adjourned the case having heard evidence and ordered a probation report.
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