This article is from page 14 of the 2009-11-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A MAN who dropped a packet of ec- stacy tablets to the ground at Ennis Garda Station almost nine years ago was yesterday jailed for 18 months.
Peter Burke (30), with an address at Glenanail Drive, Riverside, Galway, was convicted of possession of ecs- tacy for the purpose of sale or supply, in February 2001.
Sergeant John Brennan told Ennis Circuit Court that a car was stopped in Clarecastle on the evening of Feb- ruary 1, 2001 and the two occupants
were taken to Ennis Garda Station.
As the two were being taken from a car at the station, the accused dropped a package to the ground.
This was retrieved by gardai and it was found to contain 595 ecstacy tablets.
The market value of the tablets at the time was £5,940 (€7,500). Burke was arrested and detained overnight at Ennis Garda Station. He was charged the following morning.
However, he subsequently left the jurisdiction and went to the US. He returned in 2008 and on his return to
Ireland, he contacted gardai. He was then re-charged with the original of- oe
Sgt Brennan explained to Judge Carroll Moran that Burke had been returned for trial to the circuit court when he left the country.
Defence counsel Michael Collins, BL, put it to Sgt Brennan that his cli- ent was “not the main man in the op- eration.” Sgt Brennan replied, “That was our information at the time.”
Mr Collins said that the accused was “facing the music for these of- fences at this stage.’ He said there
were unusual features in the case “such as the accused absconding and going to the States and when he re- turns he immediately goes to gardai because he wants to face up to his responsibilities.”
Judge Moran said it was an aggra- vating factor that the accused ab- sconded, having been returned for trial to the circuit court. He said the accused was carrying a sizable quan- tity of ecstacy tablets.
However, he noted that the accused had pleaded guilty, was not the main player and has succeeded in kicking
his drug habit.
The judge said that a 10-year sen- tence could be imposed for posses- sion of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply, where the value exceeds Ja men OeL OF
“He had over half that threshold,’ he said.
“This could not be considered a minimalist case,” said the judge.
“Even having regard to all the fa- vourable matters, I’m compelled to impose an immediate custodial sen- tence,’ he said and jailed Burke for 18 months.