Wicklow father-of-seven given four year sentence over supply of drugs
The Wicklow PeopleA Bray man with a lengthy criminal record appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court this week, where he was sentenced for his role in a drug supply operation uncovered by gardaí in the Hazelwood area.
Coyle Byrne (34), a father-of-seven with an address at 6 Hazelwood, Bray, Co. Wicklow, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply.
Detective Sergeant Ger Brennan from Bray Garda Station told the court that gardaí had discovered a rough patch of terrain at Hazelwood, Bray. The area was located among bushes near the main road leading into the estate. With the assistance of the Garda Canine Unit, officers discovered 1.5 kilograms of cannabis inside a black bin liner.
The drugs were sent for forensic analysis, which returned a positive DNA match for Mr Byrne.
The cannabis had an estimated street value of €33,000.
The court heard that Mr Byrne was not arrested and charged until November 2022, due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has 72 previous convictions, including offences such as violent disorder, production of an article, handling stolen property, and road traffic matters, and had previously been sentenced at Wicklow Circuit Court in 2019 for the cultivation of marijuana plants in an unrelated matter. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final four years suspended for that offence.
James Kelly SC, counsel for the prosecution, asked Det Sgt Brennan whether he was familiar with Mr Byrne from his work in the Bray area. Det Sgt Brennan told the court that he had known him for a long time and added: “I don’t believe he is the mastermind , he is just providing a service.”
Counsel for the defence, Justin McQuade BL, instructed by Brendan Maloney, solicitors, told the court that his client had been served with an intimidation warning by gardaí in 2023, following allegations of threatening behaviour due to an outstanding drug debt.
He noted that Byrne had not come to the attention of gardaí since and had begun drug counselling with the Bray Community Addiction Team (BCAT).
Mr McQuade argued that his client had made positive changes in recent years and that his partner, who was present in court to support him, is expecting their seventh child. Mr McQuade asked Det Sgt Brennan whether Mr Byrne had “the trappings of wealth,” to which the officer replied that he did not.
When sentencing, Judge Patrick Quinn stated that Mr Byrne must “learn that his actions have consequences”. He sentenced him to four and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for six months.