Man found with drugs had leg broken over debt
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man told Gardaí he accidentally discovered over €8,000 worth of cannabis when he stopped at the side of the road to go to the toilet.
Stephen Morrell, aged 56, of St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Det Gda Darragh Devine told the court that on September 19, 2021, Gardaí received information about suspected drug-related activity on the L1125 at Cloonturk, Ballina.
Gardaí monitored the area and on September 25, 2021, discovered a Centra shopping bag with 19 bags of cannabis inside. They continued their surveillance and at 11.45am a Ford Transit driven by Morrell stopped on the road. He picked up the bag from its hidden location before officers approached. Morrell attempted to flee but was apprehended and arrested.
While being interviewed, the defendant initially told Gardaí that he had only stopped to go to the toilet and denied the drugs were his. The 430.7gm of cannabis discovered had an estimated value of €8,614.
In October 2022, Morrell pleaded guilty to possession of more than €70,000 worth of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply. That offence occurred seven months before his arrest in September 2021.
Senior counsel, Desmond Dockery, representing Morrell, told the court his client’s explanation for his actions was the same for both offences.
Mr Dockery said Morrell had been diagnosed with cancer and began to borrow money from a family friend. He had borrowed €12,000 before this family friend was killed in a car accident. Mr Dockery said Morrell then realised to his horror that his debt still existed with associates of his deceased friend.
Mr Dockery said that in 2019, a number of men visited Morrell’s home and broke his leg.
The barrister detailed a litany of Morrell’s medical problems. As well as the cancer diagnosis, he has a serious heart condition, respiratory issues, and suffers from anxiety.
Judge Eoin Garavan said that seven months after being caught with a large quantity of drugs, Morrell took another chance for financial gain.
“Maybe taking the risk was better the meeting the leg breakers again,” the judge remarked.
He said the seriousness of the charge deserves a custodial sentence but he noted Morrell’s complicated medical problems. The judge said he would require a special status prison given his health.
“I am prepared to take the humanitarian approach,” Judge Garavan stated before handing down a two-year suspended prison term.
