Patrick Shields given suspended sentence for heroin possession

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

Patrick Shields was given a five-year sentence, suspended in full, for possession of heroin for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge, which concerned heroin at his address on 6 October 2013. The proceedings were reported on 31 May 2022.

The heroin was valued at €34,044. Judge Pauline Codd said Shields would serve the five years if there was any relapse, and accepted that he had taken responsibility and self-rehabilitated.

The report said Detective Garda Mary Moore accepted there was a credible threat to Shields’ life. Defence counsel said Shields and his father had been assaulted and abducted, the family home had been attacked, and the drug value was overstated.