DPP seeks to activate suspended drugs sentence given to Limerick drug dealer

The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking to activate a suspended prison sentence which was given to a Limerick drug dealer last year after a letter from Fianna Fáil Justice spokesman, Niall Collins was handed into the court during a plea for mitigation.

A widowed father of four, Hugo Porter, of St Patrick’s Villas, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, appeared before Limerick Circuit Court on Wednesday where an application to activate the suspended jail term was adjourned until yesterday, to allow him time to arrange childcare for his children.

When the case was called yesterday, counsel Michael Collins said he had received a letter from University Hospital Limerick stating Porter had been brought there with a cardiac stress complaint and was admitted. He asked for an adjournment to Tuesday next which was granted by Judge John Hannan.

Porter, aged 41, was convicted of the drugs offences and given a three-year suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Court last year.

Fianna Fáil Justice spokesman Niall Collins

Mr Justice Carroll Moran, at the sentencing hearing, insisted that a letter written by Deputy Collins in reference to the Castleconnell man had no influence on his decision to impose a suspended sentence.

Mr Collins had written a letter that was handed in to court during a plea in mitigation by Porter’s legal team. Following the sentencing, Mr Collins that said he regretted writing the letter and it was a mistake.

However, despite the sentencing judge’s warning that Porter stay out of trouble, he subsequently came before Nenagh District Court where he pleaded guilty to the theft of two steel containers from a property in Newport Co Tipperary in December 2014.

The district court judge ordered that Porter be sent back before Limerick Circuit Court for it to consider the activation of the suspended sentence for the earlier drugs offence.