Wicklow man avoids jail over €16,500 cocaine haul

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Aman has received a fully suspended sentence after gardaí discovered €16,500 worth of cocaine during a roadside stop and a subsequent search of his home

Matthew Curran, with an address at Knockenrahan, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply.

A Detective Garda from Arklow Garda Station testified that on March 8, 2023, he stopped a vehicle with three occupants inside. Mr Curran was found in the car with €2,000 worth of cocaine on his person in a black bag.

Members of An Garda Síochána obtained a warrant from a peace commissioner and searched Mr Curran’s property, where a further €14,500 worth of cocaine was found in his bedroom. The combined street value of the drugs was €16,500.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, James Kelly BL, told the court that when questioned, Mr Curran admitted the drugs were his but did not say whether they were intended for sale.

The court heard that Mr Curran was employed at the time of the offence and was previously unknown to gardaí, with no issues arising since the incident. The garda said: “He is not a big player in the drug game.”

The court was told that Mr Curran had been holding the drugs for another person and that he had been used to store them because he had incurred a debt linked to his own drug use.

Mr Curran was described during the hearing as “naive” and “a fool”.

Counsel for the defence, Gregory Murphy BL, instructed by Padraig Hyland, told the court that his client is hugely embarrassed and is now clean from all drugs. Clean urine samples were handed into the court.

Mr Murphy said his client had been exposed to drugs at a young age due to the friends he mixed with, but has since distanced himself from those people. He now has a long term girlfriend who attended court with his family.

It was noted that Mr Curran completed school although he struggled due to dyslexia, and that he has been working consistently since leaving school.

A probation report stated that he is at no risk of reoffending. Counsel described his actions as a “stupid mistake”.

The court was told that Mr Curran hopes to travel in the future and that a custodial sentence or even a suspended sentence could affect his ability to do so.

Judge Patrick Quinn noted that the accused has a strong support system. He sentenced Mr Curran to two years imprisonment but suspended the entire term for two years.

A destruction order was granted for the cocaine.