Stored drugs for a dealer to feed his own heroin habit
Carlow courthouse Pic: Michael O'Rourke
A CARLOW man who admitted storing drugs for a dealer so that he could feed his own habit received a fully suspended sentence after the judge heard that he was actively trying to improve his life. James McCarthy, 42 Browneshill, Carlow pleaded guilty to possessing diamorphine and Zopiclone, a controlled drug, when gardaí searched that address on 2 June 2023.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly was told that €4,600 worth of Zopiclone, just over €3,100 worth of diamorphine and some cannabis were found in the search.
Tara Geoghegan BL, defending Mr McCarthy (37), told the court that her client “was not high up in the ranks” of drug dealing but agreed to hold the drugs for a dealer in return for heroin to feed his own habit. She said that after the drugs were seized, he was nervous about reprisals from the owner and so repaid them the value of the drugs.
Ms Geoghegan continued that Mr McCarthy got addicted to heroin when he moved to Dublin, but he then moved to Thailand, where he detoxed and became clean. It was the death of his brother, said Ms Geoghegan, that made him return to drug-taking because of the profound effect it had on him.
The court heard that Mr McCarthy had been trying to improve his life and had engaged with a drug clinic. He’s also studying and has ambitions to become an English teacher and is teaching English to new members of the Carlow community, Judge O’Kelly heard.
Ms Geoghegan said that her client “blames no-one but himself” and that he was making strides to improve his life.
The judge noted that the Probation Service found the defendant to be a suitable candidate for a suspended sentence and so sentenced Mr McCarthy to three years’ imprisonment, which he suspended fully. He also ordered the defendant to engage with the Probation Service for the next 18 months.
