John Reeves jailed for five years over cocaine and heroin in suitcase

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

John Reeves was jailed for five years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after Judge Martina Baxter imposed a seven-year prison term and suspended the final two years. The proceedings were reported on 18 May 2023.

Reeves pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his address on Birches Road, Wedgewood, Sandyford, Dublin. The offence took place on 20 October 2022.

Garda Shane Donovan told the court that a search of the address found a pink suitcase containing eight blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine. The heroin was valued at approximately €560,000 and the cocaine at approximately €490,000.

Reeves voluntarily went to a garda station and said he knew the suitcase contained drugs but did not know what type. He said he had taken possession of it in a shopping centre car park, had addiction and financial difficulties including a drugs debt, and that his family was not involved.

Garda Donovan agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that Reeves said he thought he was holding cannabis and became ill when told what the drugs were. The garda accepted that Reeves had no control over their nature or quantity and was holding them to reduce a €3,000 drugs debt. He agreed that no evidence of drug dealing was found in the house and that Reeves had no interest in the drugs.

The suspension was conditional on Reeves following all Probation Service directions, including attending for grief and addiction counselling, training and employment. Reeves had no previous convictions.