Tallaght father jailed for drug dealing

A Tallaght father-of-two was jailed for seven years with the last four suspended for possessing nearly €60,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis in his home.

Paul Parkinson (aged 34) of Deerpark Square pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at his home on August 28, 2008.

The chronic cocaine addict admitted he got involved in drug dealing to his friends as he had run into debt due to an inability to find work as a result of a back injury he received in 2007.

Garda Liam Brennan told Mr Vincent Heneghan, BL, prosecuting that on obtaining a search warrant he found a bag of cocaine in the wardrobe of Parkinson’s house along with plastic bags, gloves and a pair of scissors.

Four slates of cannabis resin, cocaine and ancillary items were also located in the hot press.

Ms Roisin Lacey BL, defending, said the unemployed steel fabricator, who has no previous convictions, dabbled in serious drugs in 2007, which “took over his life.”

He has since taken steps to deal with his drug addiction by attending Victory Outreach in Navan and now has a 12-year-old child and a two-week-old baby.

Judge Patrick McCartan said Parkinson’s “first serious mistake makes the worst impact” due to the high value of the drugs involved.

Parkinson’s family members, who supported him in court, broke down in tears when sentence was handed down.