Sligo man jailed for cocaine possession

A Sligo man who was “well-known” to gardaí has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being caught with over €67,000 of cocaine in Co Roscommon.

Patrick Irwin (aged 29) of St Joseph’s Terrace, Sligo, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Doon, Boyle, Co. Roscommon on October 2, 2006.

Detective Sergeant Con Lee told Ms Delia Maria Flynn SC, prosecuting, that gardaí organised a surveillance operation in October 2006 after they became aware that a drugs transaction would take place in the townland of Doon and that Irwin was involved.

Irwin was arrested and €55,000 in cash, along with 962 grammes of cocaine worth €67,340, was found in his co-accused’s Mercedes car which he had pulled up behind and gotten into.

His co-accused was sentenced for this matter and for drugs found in a follow-up operation in Lucan, Co. Dublin, the court heard.

Det Sgt Lee said Irwin had 12 previous convictions including two in which he was prosecuted under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The value of drugs found in Co. Roscommon was €67,340 and a kilo of cocaine worth €70,000 was found in a follow-up search in Lucan.

Mr Michael O’ Higgins SC, defending, said in mitigation that Irwin has two brothers and three sisters, his parents are both deceased and he left school at the age of 12. He said he has one child with his current partner.

Mr O’ Higgins said Irwin had a lesser involvement than his co-accused and asked the judge for leniency.

Judge Patrick McCartan congratulated the gardai for their surveillance in following a man who was “well-known to them” to the point of contact.

The judge noted that Mr Irwin had delayed in entering his plea unlike his co-accused but this was because of judicial review on July 29, 2010.

He sentenced him to seven years in prison to date from today.