Gerald O’Donnell jailed for cannabis possession in Lusk

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

Gerald O’Donnell was jailed for five years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 June 2023. The proceedings were reported on 21 June 2023.

O’Donnell, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis in herb and resin form at his home in Dun Emer Place, Lusk, Co Dublin, on 13 May 2021.

Judge Orla Crowe set a seven-year headline sentence before reducing it to five years for mitigating factors. She cited O’Donnell’s early plea, information given to gardaí, medical condition and lack of previous convictions apart from a minor driving offence. She backdated the sentence to 3 May, when he went into custody.

Gardaí seized 12.5kg of cannabis herb valued at €250,000 and 1.4kg of resin worth €8,000. They also recovered €5,195 in cash, which the report described as proceeds of crime.

Patrick Gageby SC, defending, said O’Donnell had been forced to give up work because of ankylosing spondylitis, which caused spinal pain. He said dealing drugs meant O’Donnell was not dependent on anyone. Judge Crowe accepted that O’Donnell was a good father, while saying he had dealt drugs for gain at wholesale level.