Mayo man found with drugs haul is 'no longer safe in Ireland'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man caught with more than €7,000 of cannabis remains under serious threat from drug dealers, a court was told.
Thorsten Brady, aged 29, formerly of Glenfort, Castlebar, but now residing outside the jurisdiction, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to drug possession and possession with intent to supply.
Det Gda Ciaran Naughton told the court that on September 25, 2019, Gardaí received information that there was drugs at Brady’s then residence in Glenfort. His vehicle was stopped on Pound Road and no drugs were found but a search of his home led to the discovery of cannabis valued at €7,662. He claimed the drugs were for personal use.
Barrister Mark Ryan said his client was a middle-man and was holding the drugs for someone else. Brady was indebted to drug dealers and some of his debt would be cancelled for storing the cannabis.
The accused left the country shortly after his arrest due to a genuine concern for his safety. When he last returned to Mayo he was physically assaulted and a sibling has been threatened. Brady’s parents also fear for their safety, the court was told.
Brady has a previous conviction after he and another individual were caught with a significant quantity of cannabis.
Mr Ryan said this conviction was also linked to his drug debt. The accused is a father-of-one, in a stable relationship, and in gainful employment.
Judge Eoin Garavan said the case showed that "once you get involved in consuming and dealing you end up in debt and stuck in the cogs of this sinister machine".
The judge said Brady has managed to “wrestle himself away” from drug dealing, adding: “Ireland is not a safe place for him and nor is an Irish prison.”
Judge Garavan imposed a four-year suspended prison sentence.
