Louth man pointed out cocaine when gardaí called to his apartment

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 45-year-old man pointed out the location of drugs in his home after opening the door to a Garda search party, the circuit court has heard.

John Hodgins, Ferrard Court, The Twenties, Drogheda at the time, and now back living at Moneymore in the town, pleaded guilty to possession and possession for sale or supply of cocaine.

Evidence was given that he was paying back a €4,000 drugs debt. He also had an issue with alcohol and a gambling addiction.

Det Gda John Walsh said that when Gardaí arrived at the apartment in Ferrard Court at 10.05pm on January 1, 2025, the door was opened by Mr Hodgins.

He immediately told officers that there was cocaine in a wardrobe in the spare bedroom.

Gardaí seized 224.5g of cocaine valued €15,778, €1,900 cash, a weighing scale and mobile phone.

He co-operated “to an extent” with the investigation, Det Gda Walsh continued, saying that he was holding the drugs on behalf of criminals.

However, his mobile phone showed that he was supplying drugs on behalf of those criminals.

The father of two denied that during an interview.

There were threatening messages towards him and his family on the phone, the court was told.

Det Gda Walsh replied to defence counsel Donough McDonough that Mr Hodgins said he was protecting himself and his family as he had seen what happened before.

The €1,900 had been dropped to his home. It was a council flat, and he had lost the tenancy as a result.

Mr McDonough said his vulnerable client had no previous drugs convictions. He didn’t profit from this.

The eldest of six children, he grew up in a “chaotic household”. His parents separated, and he lived with his grandmother in Termonfeckin. He didn’t get on with his mother’s new partner.

Mr Hodgins had worked as a fisherman, in construction and driving a truck. He has a heart condition.

He began taking cannabis as a teen but no longer, and used cocaine on a sporadic basis.

Judge Dara Hayes noted that it was of concern to the Probation Service that the defendant didn't see longstanding alcohol and gambling issues the same as a probation officer.

Mr McDonough said a brother of Mr Hodgins died tragically.

Drug-free and “drinking in a small way”, he was seeking an opportunity to engage with services.

Judge Hayes remarked that this was serious offending. It involved a significant quantity of drugs and a relatively large sum of cash.

There was some context to the offending, though that didn’t excuse it.

On the Section 15 charge, a 2-year, 9-month sentence was imposed, the final 15 months suspended, and backdated to February 3 last to account for time spent in custody.