Jail for heroin dealer 'caught red-handed'
By MIKE DWANE
A SOUTHSIDE heroin dealer has been jailed for eight months after admitting he had been “caught red-handed” in the process of bagging the drug for sale.
In sentencing 26-year-old David Nolan, of Ashe Avenue, John Carew Park, Judge Tom O’Donnell said it was “a very serious matter” that Mr Nolan was selling “a highly addictive drug that unfortunately is becoming quite prevalent in cases before this court”.
Mr Nolan pleaded guilty to two counts of simple possession of heroin, one count of possession for sale or supply, and a number of traffic and public order offences on various dates. A charge of assaulting a Southill woman was struck out.
Garda Pat Whelan, Roxboro Garda Station, told Judge O’Donnell that he had obtained a drug warrant to search an address at Lawn Way, John Carew Park on October 8 last and Mr Nolan was found in possession of heroin with a street value of 500.
“He was also found in possession of a scissors and plastic bags and he admitted after his arrest that he was in the process of bagging the heroin for sale or supply,” Garda Whelan said.
The court heard that on February 16 last Detective Garda Oliver Foley stopped a car being driven by Mr Nolan on Harstonge Street and 400 worth of heroin was found.
After his release from custody, Mr Nolan was immediately re-arrested by Garda Mary Flynn on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. He provided a urine sample, which when analysed showed traces of cocaine and cannabis.
Mr Nolan was also accused of assaulting Linda Casey, of O’Malley Park, Southill on August 16 last. The alleged injured party, who was earlier in the day ordered out of the court by Judge O’Donnell for causing a disruption, was questioned in the witness box by Inspector Tom O’Brien, Henry Street Garda Station.
The court heard that there were a few people outside Ms Casey’s house involved in an argument.
“And can you tell the court what happened as a result of the argument,” Insp O’Brien asked.
“Nothing,” replied Ms Casey, to the exasperation of the inspector and Judge O’Donnell, who dismissed the assault charge against Mr Nolan.
The court heard, however, that later on August 16, Garda Michael O’Connor that Mr Nolan was “extremely intoxicated”, abusing gardai and “banging on the squad car”.
Garda Whelan agreed with Sara Ryan, solicitor, that Mr Nolan had made full admissions at an early stage in relation to the heroin seizure on October 8. Ms Ryan said the father-of-four should be given credit for his early plea of guilty in relation to the matters. While the accused had 33 prior convictions, including three for simple possession, Ms Ryan stressed that he had never been convicted for possessing drugs for sale or supply.
For possession of the heroin for sale or supply on October 8, Mr Nolan was sentenced to eight months in prison. He was jailed for four months for simple possession on that date; four months for drug-driving and four months for possession of heroin on February 16 and two months for threatening and abusive behaviour towards gardai on August 16, all the sentences to run concurrently, with the remaining charges taken into consideration.
Recognisances in event of an appeal were set at 250, with a surety of 750 to be approved.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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