Suspended sentence for who had cocaine and ketamine
Seven bags of suspected cocaine and ketamine to the value of €800 were found
A LEIGHLINBRIDGE man was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, for various offences under the at Carlow District Court.
On 14 February 2025, gardaí executed a search warrant they had obtained under the to search Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Shaw’s car and residence. The prosecuting sergeant told the court that in the car they found two bags of suspected cocaine to the value of €200 and a flick knife under the driving seat. In his residence, they found scales and cash to the value of €1,300 and seven bags of suspected cocaine and ketamine to the value of €800.
Mr Shaw, The Villa, Bawnogue, Leighlinbridge made full admission of possessing the drugs and other paraphernalia for the purposes of sale and supply at the scene.
When later interviewed by gardaí, Mr Shaw said “no comment” to all questions. He pleaded guilty to possession and to possession for the purpose of supplying.
Following testing, the seized drugs came back having tested positive for cocaine and ketamine.
The court heard that the defendant had six previous convictions, five of which were for road traffic incidents, with the most recent one dating from 2025. His other conviction was for a section 3 offence under the for possessing an illegal drug in 2017, for which he was fined €200.
Solicitor Joe Farrell said that Mr Shaw should get credit for his guilty plea and the admissions made at the scene. Mr Shaw had told him that the flick knife was for the purposes of fishing and hunting, which he explained at the scene, and Mr Farrell said that he had no reason to accept or deny it.
Mr Farrell then asked the garda if Mr Shaw had come to their attention since the incident and it was confirmed that he had not.
Mr Farrell mentioned the probation report that had been compiled, which put Mr Shaw at a moderate risk of reoffending, and outlined the conditions on which the probation service was willing to work with him. He said that Mr Shaw was willing to comply and “jump through whatever hoops were put in place”.
He went on to say that his client was selling and supplying drugs to fund his own drug habit. Mr Shaw’s mother had accompanied him to court and Mr Farrell said that his client had good family support around him. Directions from the director of public prosecutions on the case came through in December 2025 when proposals were put to the state that were not accepted, Mr Farrell said.
Today, Mr Shaw is employed by a road maintenance company, Mr Farrell concluded.
Judge Andrew Gubbins summed up the case by saying that Mr Shaw was involved in the drugs trade with quite serious drugs – ketamine and cocaine â but that, to his credit, he pleaded guilty to all matters early, had not since come to the attention of gardaí and his probation report showed a moderate risk of reoffending. As such, Judge Gubbins said, he was comfortable with giving Mr Shaw a custodial sentence of six months, suspended for two years.
He attached a number of conditions to sentencing, namely that Mr Shaw keep the peace and be of good behaviour, not reoffend, participate in a one-to-one drug programme, engage with therapy and notify the probation services of any changes to his address or contact numbers.
The drugs were ordered to be destroyed and the cash to be forfeited.
Mr Farrell did not ask to fix recognisance and Mr Shaw’s bond was set at €200.
