Judge rules man ‘probably’ thought heroin he was holding was cannabis

A Dublin father caught with almost €40,000 worth of heroin has been given a suspended sentence after a judge accepted that he “probably” thought it was cannabis.

Eoin Bradshaw (22) pleaded guilty to possessing heroin for sale or supply on December 6th, 2012 in the back garden of a house on Woodbine Road in Raheny.

Bradshaw, of Esker Drive, Lucan, told gardaí ­ he had agreed to hold a package overnight in order to clear a drug debt, but that he believed it contained cannabis.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bradshaw to five years in prison but suspended it in full, on condition that he keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for five years.

Judge Nolan noted that Bradshaw had no previous convictions and said it was an “unusual” case.

Garda Kevin Burke told Joe Barnes BL, prosecuting, that gardaí ­ searched a house on Woodbine Road and saw the accused coming in from the back garden.

A package tightly wrapped in electrical tape was found in the back garden, containing 256 grammes of heroin valued at €38,500.

Bradshaw, who was aged 19 at the time, took full responsibility and said he had agreed to hold the package because he owed drug money for his own cannabis use.

Bradshaw said he had been told his drug debt would be cleared and he would be paid €200.

Gda Burke agreed with Tara Burns SC, defending, that Bradshaw thought the package contained cannabis.

The court heard Bradshaw was unemployed and had left school after his Junior Cert but had completed a number of courses in computers.

Counsel for his defence said he helps out in a very active way in an old person’s home where his father is resident.

The court heard he is involved in the life of his four-year old daughter and very much regrets his offence.

Ms Burns said Bradshaw was warned that if he didn’t comply with the demand to hold the package he would land himself in trouble.

Testimonials handed into court described Bradshaw as a kind, caring person who gave great help to cancer sufferers in an old people’s home.