Carlow defendant 'going round in circles' with drug offences
The man was found with a small amount of cannabis on his person
Judge Geraldine Carthy last week sentenced a defendant to one month’s imprisonment after he admitted having cannabis while on a suspended sentence.
Judge Carthy, on hearing that Darren Coakley had 67 previous convictions and had been on a suspended sentence when he was found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis at Haymarket, Carlow, asked him, “ ?”
Sergeant Hud Kelly told the court that Mr Coakley, 44 John Sweeney Park, Carlow had been seen acting suspiciously by gardaí at Haymarket on 18 November 2023.
He said that when gardaí found a small quantity of cannabis on 37-year-old Mr Coakley, he admitted that it was for his own use.
Solicitor Chris Hogan said that his client was “very clearly addicted to drugs” but that he was now doing well in his life as he was working on a community employment scheme and was off drugs.
He continued that Mr Coakley’s partner was expecting a baby and that he was keen to avoid prison.
Mr Hogan submitted to Judge Carthy that it would be disproportionate to send Mr Coakley to prison for such a small amount of cannabis, but she replied that she didn’t make up the law. “How long do we go around this circle?” she asked Mr Coakley.
She then sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment.
