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Dublin man who has place on army rehab programme is jailed for drug possession
Summary
Eoghan Conlon, 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Larch Hill apartments, Santry, on March 27, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated that Gardaí observed Conlon receiving a large black bin bag from another individual during a surveillance operation. The bag contained one kilogram of cannabis in sealed packages, valued at just under €40,000. Conlon, who has ten previous convictions, was described by his defense counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, as a former Tesco manager who had been accepted onto a British Army rehabilitation of offenders programme. McGinn argued that Conlon was a willing participant rather than the mastermind, acting due to a drug debt, and that his acceptance into the army demonstrated his readiness to start a new life. Judge Terence O'Sullivan accepted that Conlon was a foot soldier in the operation and noted the defendant's efforts to change his life circumstances. The judge stated he did not wish to take away the chance offered by the army. He imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on the conditions that Conlon keep the peace and remain drug-free while in prison and upon his release.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin man who has place on army rehab programme is jailed for drug possession. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Larch Hill apartments, Santry on March 27, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 27, 2015 Incident
- 2016-04-08 Publication
Why: An application to join the Irish Army was rejected because of his eye injury but Conlon was later accepted on a rehabilitation of offenders programme by the British Army. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Larch Hill apartments, Santry on March 27, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment with the last nine months suspended on condition that he keep the peace and remains drug free while he is in prison and upon his release. Before the sentence was imposed Mr McGinn said his client had stopped taking drugs and his "acceptance into the army is testament that he is ready to start a new life".
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