Teen could face mandatory 10-year sentence in drugs case

A 17-year-old boy, who allegedly had €45,000 worth of cocaine hidden in a pram shed at his home, could face a 10-year sentence the Dublin Children’s Court heard today.

The teenager, who is from south Dublin but cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, has been charged with possessing a quantity of cocaine and a supply of cannabis, for sale or supply, at his home address, on a date last June 22.

He has also been charged under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act for possessing cocaine worth more than €13,000 for sale or supply, which on conviction can carry a minimum mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Prosecuting Garda Kieran O’Reilly, of Pearse Street station, told Judge Ann Ryan it was alleged “we saw the accused entering a pram shed which is beneath his own residence, when he stepped out a search was carried out of the shed and his residence.

“The accused was in possession of a substantial quantity of cocaine with an estimated value of €45,000 and some cash as well.”

He said packaging for cannabis resin was also recovered and the Director of Public Prosecutions was urging for the case was to proceed to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence counsel Ms Grainne O’Neill said the 2001 Children Act allowed submissions to be made to the Children’s Court, which has lesser sentencing powers, for it to accept jurisdiction to hear the case.

The court could take into consideration the age and maturity of the juvenile defendant.

She told Judge Ryan the boy started to associate with a negative peer group following the death of his mother.

“No one in his family had been in trouble before. He started smoking cannabis; at the age of 14 he began taking heroin and accumulated a debt and was under the influence of other people in the area,” she said.

She also said he is on a training course, has started receiving counselling and has not been in trouble since.

In the second part of her application she submitted that juveniles facing this type of charge in the Circuit Court, were excluded from facing the possible mandatory 10-year sentence.

However if trial on indictment were ordered, by the time the case would reach the Circuit Court he would then be aged 18, an adult.

Reserving her decision for two weeks, Judge Ryan remanded the teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father, on continuing bail.