Man who had large quantity of drugs turns life around
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man caught with more than €20,000 worth of cocaine has received a suspended prison sentence.
Thomas Rose, aged 21, of Carrabawn, Westport previously pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply, as well as possessing cocaine and cannabis for personal use.
Det Gda Michael Joyce told the court that gardaí carried out a surveillance operation at Lankhill, Westport, on February 18, 2022, after receiving information that a quantity of cocaine was hidden in the area. A white Audi A4 arrived at the scene at 8.40pm and the defendant exited the vehicle. He made his way to a cardboard Monster Energy drinks box located nearby and removed a plastic bag. When approached by gardaí, Rose attempted to flee but was detained by Gda James O’Brien.
The bag contained white powder, which on further analysis was confirmed to be 325.4 grams of cocaine with a street value of €22,778.
A search warrant was executed at the defendant's home address where digital weighing scales were seized, along with cannabis worth €212 and cocaine worth €39.
The defendant’s father Edwin Rose told the court he and his wife previously paid off a drug debt for their son who is now in deeper debt because the owners of the drugs seized by gardaí are seeking compensation for their loss. Mr Rose said the situation is very stressful and threats of violence have been made to him and his wife and their house, forcing them to install CCTV security.
The case was adjourned to see what improvements Rose could make to his life.
Diarmuid Connolly BL, said his client is drug and alcohol-free and has attended in-patient treatment for his cocaine use. Rose has set up a car valeting company and is studying motor technology in college.
Judge Eoin Garavan said the man’s family is to be commended for standing by him. He also praised Rose for his rehabilitation.
“This was a man who was going off the rails," he said.
Rose was deemed to be at low risk of re-offending by the Probation Service.
Judge Garavan imposed a three-year suspended jail sentence.
