Mark Sorahan given suspended sentences for heroin and obstruction offences

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

Mark Sorahan was given a suspended jail sentence of two and a half years for a heroin offence and a separate suspended sentence of five months for obstructing gardaí. The proceedings were reported on 1 August 2019.

Sorahan, of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing heroin for sale or supply and obstructing a garda. The charges arose from a search at Priorswood Road, Priorswood, on 16 March 2018.

Sergeant Killian Leydon said he had seen Sorahan driving a van and conducting a suspected drug transaction. During a search, the sergeant found a lump in Sorahan’s sock, after which Sorahan broke free and ran. He was caught a few metres away. A further search recovered two packages, including one found within his buttocks; the heroin had an estimated street value of €1,497.

Sorahan took responsibility for the drugs and cooperated with gardaí. He told them he had bought the heroin to make money for parts needed to repair his girlfriend’s car. The report said he had 113 previous convictions.

Luigi Rea, defending, said Sorahan had completed a music-production course and was seeking work as a DJ. He said Sorahan was taking steps to change his life, but should have known better because the people buying the drugs would have been in the position he had been in when addicted years earlier.

Judge Karen O'Connor said she was giving Sorahan one last chance at rehabilitation. She said he had engaged in unacceptable behaviour and warned that he would either mend his ways or spend considerable time in prison.