Drug dealer who blew his chance is jailed for three years

AN ELECTRICIAN blew his chance of avoiding jail for drug dealing when he carried out a similar crime a year after his first case was adjourned.

Peter O’Shea, aged 24, of Palaceanne Lawn, South Douglas Road, initially admitted having cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply on October 12, 2000.

Judge A.G. Murphy, now retired, gave O’Shea a chance at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in relation to that offence. He adjourned sentencing for two years to see how O’Shea would behave.

Had there been no adverse report the defendant could have expected to get a suspended sentence.

However, when the case came up for sentencing yesterday in the same court before Judge Sean Ó Donnabhain it turned out O’Shea was caught with drugs for sale or supply on October 17, 2001.

The first offence involved 6350 and occurred at South Douglas Road. The second offence involved 3125 worth of cannabis happened at Evergreen Villas, Evergreen Road.

On both occasions gardaí were operating stakeouts to watch the activities of other individuals. O’Shea, who was not under observation, was caught out on each occasion.

The defendant has been to Coolmine rehabilitation centre in Dublin for treatment for drug addiction. He has been in employment as an electrician.

Judge Ó Donnabhain was told O’Shea came from a very respectable family who were devastated by what happened. The judge imposed an 18-month sentence on the first

offence and a concurrent three-year sentence on the second.