Drunk driver caught with cannabis jailed for four years

A drunk driver who was caught with €81,000 worth of cannabis after he was pulled over has been jailed for four years.

Pawel Wisniewski’s car was impounded by gardai after he was caught and the drugs were found when he sent two men to collect it.

Wisniewski (aged 36) of Daletree Close, Firhouse, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at St Colmcille’s Way, Firhouse on March 20, 2010. He has four previous convictions for road traffic offences, including drink driving.

Garda Robert Zambra told prosecution counsel, Mr Paul Carroll BL, that Wisniewski was spotted by gardai driving a ’97 BMW and was pulled over on suspicion of drink driving. Gardai then had the car impounded to check its tax status.

Four days later Wisniewski sent two men to the car impound lot to pick up the BMW and pay the fine. They arrived with a trailer to transport the car because its battery was flat. Gda Zambra was in the area at the time and asked the men what they were doing as they loaded the car onto the trailer.

They explained they were collecting the car for Wisniewski. When Gda Zambra looked around the car he found two holdalls in the boot containing 26 packages of cannabis herb. Another packet was also found in the front. The drugs weighed a total of 6.7kgs and were valued at €81,092.

Gda Zambra found out from the two men where Wisniewski had arranged to pick up the car from them. The garda went with them to this location and arrested Wisniewski when the men pointed him out.

Wisniewski co-operated with gardaí and claimed he was holding onto the drugs for payment. He admitted he owned the car and that the two other men had no knowledge of its contents. Gda Zambra said he believed Wisniewski’s story.

Defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, said his client is a Polish national who has been living in Ireland for six years. He said Wisniewski is a mechanic and runs a small garage off the Naas Road.

He learnt his trade during a long spell in the Polish army during which he twice served with the UN in Bosnia.

Mr Gillane submitted that alcohol is an on-going problem for Wisniewski but that he is doing well while in custody and taking part in charity work for the Special Olympics.

Judge Martin Nolan said there were enough special circumstances to allow him not to impose the mandatory minimum 10-year term. He sentenced Wisniewski to four years, backdated to when he went into custody on his arrest.