Teen admits selling heroin to undercover officer

A Teenage boy today admitted selling a supply of heroin worth €100 to an undercover officer from the Garda National Drugs Unit during a sting operation.

The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to possessing the heroin with intent to supply on a road, in west Dublin, on the afternoon of July 1 last. He also pleaded guilty to having a further supply of cannabis worth €20, for his own use on the following day.

He also admitted engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour arising from a separate incident on a later date, in which he threw a bottle which hit a Garda’s car

Outlining the evidence, Garda Josephine Dowling told Judge Timothy Lucey that the teenage defendant “was identified selling diamorphine (heroin) to a Garda from the National Drugs Unit who was working undercover.”

The west Dublin boy, who was accompanied to court by his aunt, had no prior convictions, the court heard.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Sarah Molloy told Judge Lucey that the boy resided with extended family members. His mother had been in her mid-teens when she gave birth to him and “unfortunately has a drug problem,” she said.

He planned, with the support of his family, to begin a training course and Ms Molloy added that he would benefit from intervention from the Probation Service to “assist him in taking more pro-social choices from her on out.”

Judge Lucey said the offence was extremely serious and the boy was at a “critical juncture.” He also went on to say that it was important that the teenager “got the message himself as to how serious it is.”

“Supply of drugs is a very serious matter and most people get a jail sentence for it,” he warned.

He told the teenager he needed to co-operate with the Probation Service and his family.

“Today is the day to get the message and cop on, forget the other fellahs, they do not have a jail sentence hanging over the,” he said to the boy.

The teenager was remanded on bail to appear again for sentencing in April.