Conviction puts Olympic dream at risk
At Ennis Circuit Court, Michael Collins BL, counsel for Clareman Sean McNamara, pleaded with Judge Gerald Keyes not to impose a jail term as it would dash his client’s ambitions of representing Ireland at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Mr Collins said McNamara, 21, is an All-Ireland and Munster title holder and has recorded two national records in his weight category and age group.
He said: “He is now being picked on an elite squad for Rio, and is the public interest to be served by dashing that because of his involvement in something where he was under the influence of others?”
Mr Collins said McNamara’s Olympic potential “is now jeopardised from his involvement in the commission of these offences”.
McNamara of Doonogan, Mullagh, Co Clare, has pleaded guilty to the possession of a sawn-off shotgun and the possession and sale and supply of a small amount of cocaine on Oct 16, 2010, at Doonogan, Mullagh.
The firearm offence carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years unless special and exceptional circumstances exist.
Mr Collins said that those circumstances exist relating to the offence and to the accused by virtue of his Olympic prospects.
Judge Keyes said that he required time to consider sentence and adjourned the case to Ennis Circuit Court to June 18.
