Gardaí found €40,000 worth of drugs in Limerick man’s council house

A MAN who was found with €40,000 worth of drugs and three shotgun cartridges in his home said he was holding materials to clear his drug debt.

Limerick Circuit Court heard Damien Joyce, 26, had his home at Scanlon Park, Castleconnell, Limerick searched by gardaí on February 2, 2023.

Barrister John O’Sullivan said in his summation of the prosecution’s evidence that the drugs were found in a shoe box in Mr Joyce’s bedroom.

Two different weighing scales were also found in the room, as well as three shotgun cartridges.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions charged Mr Joyce with permitting his land to be used for the sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Mr Joyce told gardaí that he was “forced to mind it”, and that he “owed money, I had no choice”.

Mr Joyce admitted that he had been storing the drugs for five to six weeks.

The man said he was doing so to clear his drug debt - and that he wasn’t selling the drugs.

The court heard that Mr Joyce has a history of employment, and previously had a job removing knotweed. The man’s current employer - who gave him a reference in court - has a car business.

Mr Joyce’s sister also submitted a short email alluding to the family’s background on the man’s behalf.

Mr Joyce lived with his mother in a council house at the time of the offence, the court heard.

Judge Colin Daly said that Mr Joyce “was operating under a fear of what would happen to him if he did not comply”.

The court heard that Mr Joyce has 23 previous convictions, with three of those for simple possession of drugs.

Judge Colin Daly adjourned the case to a date in October for Mr Joyce to attend a drug course and show the court his employment record.

“I do want to allow Mr Joyce to put his best foot forward”, he said.

Judge Daly said: “If he can satisfy me in this regard I will suspend the sentence in its entirety for four years.”

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme