Former cocaine addict jailed over 54 offences apologises to everyone he hurt

A MAN who was “profoundly addicted to cocaine” said he has lost everything for the “love of drugs”, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

John Campbell, aged 28, of Towerhill, Cappamore pleaded guilty to a total of 54 charges - 46 deceptions, two thefts, five making off without payment of fuel and one of using a vehicle without the consent of the owner.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor Aidan Judge, outlined the case with the assistance of Detective Sergeant Ted Riordan.

Ms Buckley said the total sum of money involved was €19,359.45 and none has been recovered. The crimes took place between September 2021 and October 2022 and affected people and businesses in counties Limerick, Cork, Tipperary, Clare and Westmeath.

Mr Campbell spent five months in custody after he was arrested in October 2022. After he achieved High Court bail he has been in Remar Recovery Home in Thurles.

The court heard the Limerick businesses at a financial loss include Centra in Caherconlish; Fine Wines, Delta Retail Park; ScrewFix, Ballysimon Road; ERS, Dock Road; Northbridge Service Station, Bruff; Joe McKenna’s on Parnell Street; Maxol, St Nessan’s Road; Horse and Hound, Mulgrave Street; McNamara’s Hardware, Doon; Dennehy Commercials, Dock Road; EuroSpar, Bruff; City Electrical Factors, Ballysimon; Spar, Murroe; Mace, Raheen; Maxol, Dublin Road; Maxol, Castletroy; Inver, Ballinacurra Road; O’Dwyer’s Oil, Pallasgreen; Top Oil, Raheen; Denis Collins Off Licence, Patrickswell and Daybreak, Dromkeen.

Det Sgt Riordan told Judge Dermot Sheehan that the deceptions were carried out by Mr Campbell by using credit / debit card details belonging to a small number of people who agreed to buy milking machine parts from Mr Campbell. And by sending screenshots to businesses to “give the impression that funds had been transferred” for goods.

One man who had paid Mr Campbell a total of €1,500 for milking machine parts, which he never received, gave a victim impact statement. He said he was recovering from a spinal injury and had dismantled his milking machine for the new parts.

“I had to resort back to the old system as my cows were calving. I suffered financial loss and 17 months of hardship,” read the victim impact statement.

Limerick gardai investigating two connected burglaries

Prosecuting barrister Ms Buckley asked Det Sgt Riordan if the motivation for Mr Campbell acquiring a lot of tools from businesses was to pay off drug debts? “Yes,” Det Sgt Riordan said.

Kenneth Kerins, barrister for Mr Campbell, asked the detective sergeant if his client co-operated with gardai.

“He made full and frank admissions,” said Det Sgt Riordan, who added that Mr Campbell couldn’t remember some of the offences.

“He was profoundly addicted to cocaine?” asked Mr Kerins. “Yes,” said Det Sgt Riordan.

The defence barrister asked if there had been a big change in Mr Campbell’s appearance following his time in prison and in Remar Recovery Home. “Drastic change,” said Det Sgt Riordan.

Mr Kerins read out a letter from Remar which described Mr Campbell as “honest, reliable and trustworthy.”

In a letter of apology written by Mr Campbell he said he wanted to apologise to everybody he has hurt, that placed their trust in him and wants to make amends to those that he hurt.

“I have lost everything for the love of drugs. Since I was put in Limerick Prison I have not used drugs,” said Mr Campbell, who told Judge Sheehan how well he is doing in Remar. Mr Campbell also quoted his father’s words, “It takes years to build trust and minutes to destroy it”.

Mr Kerins said the Campbell family is highly-respected and hard-working and that Mr Campbell is a good and skilled worker with an Agricultural Science degree and had a successful milking machine business. He said what happened to Mr Campbell is a very sad story and “unfortunately one that is becoming more and more common”.

Judge Sheehan said there was a pattern to the offences.

“He used credit / debit card details to trick businesses into providing goods or services which ultimately were not paid for as the transactions were not authorised,” said Judge Sheehan.

The judge said the defendant comes from a rural area and his family have never been involved in the criminal justice system.

“He first took cocaine aged 20 at weekends and then daily. He gradually descended into drug addiction and criminality. He has no previous convictions,” said Judge Sheehan.

The judge noted Mr Campbell’s letter of apology and the letter from Remar on his positive progress. Judge Sheehan imposed two year prison sentences with the last 12 months suspended on all the charges. They are to be served concurrently.