Louth man stored cannabis after running up drugs debt during Covid
A man who developed a cocaine dependency during the Covid lockdown and ran up a debt of more than €30,000, ended up storing drugs to pay it off, Dundalk Circuit Court has been told.
Andrew Farrell (49), St Laurence’s Drive, Drogheda, was sentenced to twp years and three months in prison after he was found with €112,916 cannabis at his home.
CCTV obtained by investigating Gardaí showed that most of the haul was delivered shortly before the house was searched.
The father of five, who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with a value of €13,000 or more for sale or supply, had not been on the Garda radar up to that point.
Det Gda Dean Hyland said that the property in St Laurence’s Drive was unoccupied when it was entered at 5.45pm on December 5, 2023.
Drugs were discovered throughout the house, the majority in a hold-all in a wardrobe in the front bedroom. Total weight was 5.654kgs.
Also seized were two weighing scales, deal bags and a vacuum pack sealer, along with documentation in Andrew Farrell’s name.
Det Gda Hyland said that CCTV captured a Northern Ireland-registered silver Volkswagen Passat pulling up a day or short number of days before and a similar hold-all bag being handed to the defendant
Two days after the search, Mr Farrell, the eldest of 10 children, came by arrangement to Drogheda Garda Station for questioning.
He said that he had a drugs debt and feared the criminals on whose behalf he was storing the cannabis.
There are 16 previous convictions, including for possession and possession for sale or supply of drugs.
Barra McGrory SC said that it was surprising a man of 49 was in court for the first time on an offence of this gravity. He was not involved to this level before.
Mr Farrell developed a cocaine dependency during lockdown and ran up a debt in excess of €30,000 and “worked hard to get it cleared”.
He has been employed as a labourer, butcher for 20 years and fisherman. He was no longer able to engage in physical labour for the last two years because of back and knee injuries.
Counsel continued that a “mixed” probation report spoke of a lack of insight into the offending and its consequences.
The defendant was due to commence drug treatment in the next few days, which indicated an element of recognition and insight.
Passing sentence, Judge Dara Hayes remarked that Drogheda has seen more than its fair share of the impact of drugs.
A three-and-a-half year term was handed down, the final 15 months suspended.