Heroin 'runner' caught with over €3k worth of drugs jailed for 18 months

A heroin ‘runner’ in Youghal caught with €3,800 worth of the drug in his jacket pocket has been jailed for 18 months.

Gearóid Connolly, who is originally from Shannon, C Clare, was living at a number of addresses in Youghal recently including Pier Head apartments in the town. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a three-year jail term on him with the last 18 months suspended.

Sergeant John Sharkey said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that members of the local district drugs unit observed the accused acting suspiciously on March 28, 2018 and as they approached he became very nervous.

They carried out a search and retrieved a package from his pocket containing 27 grammes of heroin with a street value of €3,800.

“He admitted the offence immediately. He was aware he was carrying it from one person to another but said he was not sure what drug it was.

“The 26-year-old was in a relationship with a girl in Youghal and came from Shannon. He had 44 previous convictions,” Sgt Sharkey said.

The conviction of most concern to Judge Ó Donnabháin was one from 2017 which the young man had for having drugs for sale or supply, for which he got an eight-month jail term.

Defence barrister, Helen Boyle, said the accused was going to get money knocked off his own drugs bill by carrying this drug himself. Ms Boyle said the accused was not the number 1 in the particular drug distribution.

Sgt Sharkey agreed with that and said the defendant was a ‘runner’ bringing the package from one place to another.

Ms Boyle said the accused pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had been using drugs himself at the time.

The judge said:

This was not his first excursion and was before the courts in 2017 for a Section 15 (the section under the Misuse of Drugs Act for having drugs for sale or supply).

Judge Ó Donnabháin said the accused appeared to be progressing positively in prison and showing signs of rehabilitation.

The judge backdated the sentence to November 13 when the accused went into custody.