A TALENTED hurler in financial hardship who was caught holding €25,000 worth of cocaine for a few hours in return for €500 has received a four-year suspended sentence.
Stephen Devlin (20), of Belclare Crescent, Poppintree, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at his home on October 8th, 2009. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Tony Hunt said it was not in “society’s interest” to incarcerate Devlin because he is unlikely to reoffend.
Garda Nicola Duffy told Melanie Greally, prosecuting, that gardaí attended at Devlin’s home with a search warrant and were admitted by Devlin’s mother, who also lived at the house.
During the search gardaí found a Dolce Gabbana aftershave box containing a white powder in Devlin’s bedroom. The cocaine had a street value of €26,789.
Devlin admitted responsibility for the drug and it became apparent he was holding it for another person he would not identify. He was to be paid €500 for carrying out the task and expressed remorse.
Devlin said he was to hold the drug for a few hours and had just received it that morning.
Garda Duffy agreed with Patrick Marrinan SC, defending, that Devlin had co-operated with the search, admitted the offence and told them there was poverty in the house after his father had left.
She agreed that Devlin may be justified in being in fear of the people involved and had not been on the Garda radar.
Judge Hunt asked if it was reasonable to infer that Devlin’s poor circumstances were known to the people involved and Garda Duffy said it was a possibility.
The court heard Devlin was an outstanding hurler who had been on the under-21 Dublin panel and contributed to local fundraising events as well as carrying out voluntary work in his community.
Mr Marrinan said Devlin and his mother had been on the “borderline poverty level” and he needed the money.
He said Devlin was an “unlikely suspect” and the drug dealers had identified his home as a safe place.