A man caught selling ecstasy in Dublin city centre has been given a three-year suspended sentence by Judge Elizabeth Dunne. She warned Gavin Bergin: "Drugs have an adverse effect on people, and many young lives are destroyed. The consequences are dire for those involved."
Bergin (27), of Mountshannon Road, Kilmainham, pleaded guilty to the possession of ecstasy tablets for sale and supply on December 13th, 1998. He has one previous conviction in 1993 for larceny.
Mr Patrick Marrinan, defending, told Judge Dunne that Bergin had been abusing drugs since he was 13 and suffered from attention deficit disorder and severe depression. His client had been negative of all opiates since May and now had the level of commitment necessary to deal with his addiction problem. Judge Dunne said Bergin had been co-operative with gardai and, although doubt existed as to the commitment in dealing with his drug problem, he had now stabilised on a methadone programme and attended Trinity Court for treatment.
She ordered him to undertake a bond of good behaviour for three years and remain under the supervision of the probationary service for 18 months, and continue attending Trinity Court. Bergin should be under no illusions that if the conditions imposed were not complied with, he would serve the sentence.
Garda Colm Fitzgerald had told Mr Robert Barron, prosecuting, in earlier evidence that gardai spotted Bergin making a transaction in Dame Street. Asked if he had drugs, Bergin replied: "I have pills."
He was found with 19 ecstasy tablets valued at £190 in a pocket of his jacket, and £220 cash was also recovered.
Garda Fitzgerald said Bergin originally had 40 tablets, having sold the balance at £6-£8 profit per tablet.
Garda Fitzgerald said Bergin came from a respectable family background, with parents who did not condone this sort of behaviour. He had been selling the drugs to support his own serious heroin problem of a number of years. Since his arrest he had not come to the attention of gardai and had managed to remain drug-free.