An Armagh man who was among 43 people detained during a Garda raid on a disco at the Oasis Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at Castleblayney District Court yesterday.
Glen Carroll (19), with an address at Navan Fort Road, Armagh, was remanded from a sitting at Carrickmacross last week on two charges relating to the possession of 47 ecstasy tablets for sale or supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The accused pleaded guilty to the charges of possession and also to having the illicit substance for sale or supply.
Judge Seán McBride agreed to suspend four months of the six-month sentence upon Carroll entering a bond to be of good behaviour for two years and not to associate with drug-traffickers. He also banned him from visiting the Oasis Hotel or the town of Carrickmacross.
Judge MacBride was told by Supt Tom Long, Carrickmacross, that Carroll was arrested by Det Garda Paul Breslin, Monaghan, who is attached to the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Drugs Unit, and was charged with the unlawful possession of the illicit substance, which was found in his possession during a search. He had also in his possession €285 and £55. The State also successfully sought forfeiture of the cash which Supt Long said appeared to be the proceeds of drugs-trafficking.
Judge McBride said the courts took a very serious view of the case and, despite a plea for leniency by the accused man's lawyer and also by Carroll's father, he said he had a duty to society to impose a custodial sentence.
He considered drugs-trafficking one of the most serious criminal offences because of the human misery it caused. Because of Carroll's early plea, and all the circumstances in the case, he suspended four months of the six-month term.