Farid Fawzi has sentence cut for drug possession

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

The Court of Appeal resentenced Farid Fawzi to seven years in prison, with the final six months suspended, on 5 March 2019. The proceedings were reported on 6 March 2019.

Fawzi pleaded guilty to possessing almost €100,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his address in Cooneybeg, Rathpeacon, Co Cork, on 15 September 2016.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin had sentenced him at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to 10 years in prison, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the 10-year headline sentence was within the judge’s discretion, but the two-year discount for mitigating factors was insufficient and amounted to an error in principle. He said a three-year reduction would have been appropriate.

The appeal court suspended the final six months to encourage Fawzi’s continued rehabilitation. He was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended period and for two years after release, and to follow all probation service recommendations and directions during the suspended period. He undertook to be so bound.