Courts / Dublin / Report

Community service for man caught with €300k in prescription drugs

Date
2016-06-10
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a man from Dublin has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply prescription medication without authorisation. Alan McDermott, aged 54, of Clonliffe Avenue, was apprehended on Philipsburgh Avenue on 16 August 2014 following gardaí surveillance in the Drumcondra area. Officers discovered approximately 149,000 Zopiclone tablets, valued at approximately €299,000 on the illicit market, concealed in boxes within his vehicle. McDermott admitted he had agreed to transport the boxes to settle a personal drug debt, intending to park the van and leave it unattended. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a three-year custodial sentence, having received a positive probation assessment recommending community service. McDermott, with no previous convictions, expressed remorse for his involvement.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Community service for man caught with €300k in prescription drugs. Charges or matters: keeping for supply a substance without a medical prescription on Philipsburgh Avenue on August 16, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: McDermott told gardaí in interview that he had agreed to get involved in order to pay off a drug debt. CNI source report

Case subjects

Alan McDermott

Defendant

Charges: keeping for supply a substance without a medical prescription on Philipsburgh Avenue on August 16, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally suspended a three year prison sentence after the Probation Service had assessed him as suitable for community service.

Places mentioned

Residence
  • Clonliffe Avenue
  • Clonliffe Road
  • Dublin
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Address Area
  • Philipsburgh Avenue
Incident
  • Philipsburgh Avenue

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report

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