Six years in jail for supplying cocaine that led to deaths

A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to six years in prison for supplying partygoers with cocaine which led to the deaths of two Waterford men in 2007.

Anthony Connolly, of Priory Lawn in the Ballybeg housing estate in Waterford, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at a party in Ballybeg Square in November 2007.

Kevin Doyle (21), an electronics student at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) from Viewmount, and John Grey (23), both collapsed and lapsed into comas after swallowing cocaine at the party in Mr Grey’s family home on November 25th, 2007.

Mr Doyle died on December 4th and Mr Grey died four days later.

Det Garda Paul Murphy told the court yesterday that Connolly told him the drugs, which he described as “dirty white stuff”, were doled out for free at the house. “We ate it like animals,” Connolly told him.

The party began on Saturday, November 24th at the Ultimate Bar on High Street to celebrate Mark Grey’s 21st birthday.

At the Circuit Criminal Court in January, Darren Flynn, from Priory Lawn in Ballybeg, received a four-year jail term, with the last two years suspended, for possession of the drugs.

The court then heard how he was “acting as a drugs runner” at the party.

Connolly, who suffers from learning difficulties, appeared at the court yesterday for supplying the drugs to the party.

Under questioning from counsel for the defence, Aine Swift, Det Garda Murphy outlined how a “large number of people” went back to the Grey family home at about 12.30pm on November 25th.

Partygoers consumed cocaine, amphetamine, “magic mushroom soup” and ecstasy, which was “offered around freely”, Det Garda Murphy told the court.

“People started to react badly,” the court heard. Mr Doyle and Mr Grey, along with Connolly and then others, suffered seizures.

Eleven partygoers were taken to Waterford Regional Hospital.

Connolly told gardaí that he had seen the cocaine being buried about six months prior to the party. The drugs were then dug up. Det Garda Murphy said that Flynn had picked up the drugs for the party, but maintained that “Anthony Connolly had told him to do it”.

Connolly, who has previous convictions for assault, assault causing harm, misuse of drugs and criminal damage, received a nine-year jail term for possession for sale or supply of the drugs – with three years suspended.

Connolly was shocked at the sentence yesterday afternoon. He said to his solicitor, Pat Newell: “Six years? For having a conversation?”