Derek Smith sentenced for threatening family over drug debt

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Derek Smith was sentenced to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, for threatening a family over a drug debt at the Criminal Courts of Justice, reported on 2 December 2014. He had pleaded guilty to threatening the Turner family at their Whitehall home in the early hours of 26 September 2013. The court heard that Smith threatened to smash up a car with a stick if money was not paid.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring described the offence as serious and said it had caused serious damage to the family’s peace of mind. Smith had been drinking heavily and was believed to have acted under the influence of others. He received credit for his guilty plea and remorse, while the suspended portion depended on good behaviour.