Man gets 11 months for possession of ecstasy outside club

A YOUNG Dublin man has been sentenced to 11 months in prison for the possession of a quantity of ecstasy tablets outside a Dublin nightclub.

Daryl Farrelly, aged 22, of Whitestown Gardens, Blanchardstown, was yesterday convicted for the offence after he pleaded guilty to the charge of the illegal possession of drugs when he appeared before Dublin District Court.

Garda Paul McManus gave evidence of stopping and searching Farrelly under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act outside Heaven nightclub at the Westend Retail Park in Blanchardstown on February 26 last.

Garda McManus said he discovered 17 ecstasy tablets on the accused’s person.

The court heard that Farrelly had 16 previous criminal convictions, most of which related to public order and criminal damage offences.

Judge John Coughlan was told that Farrelly had previously been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in Castlerea Prison in May 2006 and was also handed down a four-month jail sentence in Arbour Hill prison for criminal damage.

Garda McManus agreed with Farrelly’s barrister that her client had been quite frank about possession of the drugs.

The court heard that Farrelly resided with his mother, for whom he acted as sole carer.

He had recently completed an educational course and was hoping to find some work in the construction industry as a labourer.

Farrelly had also developed a drink problem at a young age and was an early school-leaver.

He had completed his Junior Certificate examination while being detained in St Patrick’s Institution, the court heard.

Pleading for leniency and a suspended sentence, Farrelly’s barrister told the court that while her client had used drugs, he did not have a drug problem.

However, Judge John Coughlan sentenced Farrelly to 11 months in prison and set a number of financial conditions including an independent surety of €2,000 in case he wished to appeal against severity of sentence.