A drug dealer who learned that one of his clients had died after swallowing 41/2 ecstasy tablets flushed his remaining 50 tablets down the toilet, Wicklow Circuit Court has been told.
Stephen O'Connor (25), of Deerpark, Bray, was sentenced yesterday to three years' imprisonment by Judge Raymond Groarke. O'Connor said he never intended to harm Alison Davis (17), from Bray, who died on July 22nd last year.
Judge Groarke said the defendant was "a drug pusher dealing in death. Every party who deals in drugs is a dealer in death and every young person who takes ecstasy tablets should realise they are dealing with death. Let the details of this case alert young people to the fact that a certain number of them are going to die," he said.
O'Connor pleaded guilty to two charges of selling ecstasy tablets and one of possession.
Ms Orla Crowe, defending, said her client had been selling drugs for only three months to get a few free ones for himself. He had been a drug user from the age of 14 and had used heroin from the age of 16.
He had sold ecstasy to the girl who died on two dates in July last year. The first transaction was six ecstasy tablets for £50.
Alison was found dead by her younger sister following her mother's birthday party at the family home in Fassaroe.
O'Connor was sentenced to three years concurrent on each of the three charges.