Judge spares blind drug dealer jail but warns next time he will be imprisoned

A judge has spared a blind drug dealer jail but warned him he has received his last reprieve.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin imposed a suspended three month prison term on Brian Devanney (29) after he pleaded guilty to the sale and supply of cannabis with a street value of €4,600 from his home at Cappagh, Sixmilebridge on December 9th 2019.

Mr Devanney - who has represented Ireland’s blind soccer team - lost the sight of both of his eyes from “a very bad” 2007 road traffic accident when he was passenger in a vehicle, according to his solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick.

The court was told that Mr Devanney was selling the drugs to some of his friends.

Judge Larkin said: “That is my problem. You can’t sell to friends — you can’t sell to anyone and convince me you are not in the racket of sale and supply.

She added: “That is why the drug lords do so well because they can rely on people like Mr Devanney, people down the chain to keep on flogging the stuff.”

Judge Larkin stated that “the sale and supply of that amount of drugs warrants jail or community service but Mr Devanney is not suitable for community service”.

Sgt Aiden Lonergan stated that Mr Devanney has two previous drug convictions.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that Mr Devanney is someone who had no social outlet and he was literally spending his days sitting at home in a property buying in larger quantities because he was not in a position to travel around.

He added that his client now rents out his home and instead lives with a sister who has her own children “and won’t tolerate any behaviour of this nature”.

Mr Devanney “knows that his cards are marked and knows it is not acceptable”, he said.

Judge Larkin imposed a fine of €400 on Devanney for a separate charge for the possession of cannabis.

Imposing the suspended prison term, Judge Larkin stated that “this is Mr Devanney’s last reprieve”. She stated: “He will go to jail the next time — this is his third conviction.”