KILDARE: Man stopped by garda for car tax check had nearly €140,000 worth of drugs in the vehicle
Gardaí found nearly €140,000 worth of drugs after stopping a car to check if tax and insurance was in place, Naas Circuit Court heard.
Noel Noonan, 44, whose address was given as 19 Claughaun Road, Garryowen, Limerick was prosecuted for having drugs for sale or supply on February 13, 2017.
Detective Garda Christine Brady said the defendant was alone in the blue Toyota Corolla when it was stopped by Garda Dave Farragher at Curragh Farm, outside Kildare town.
A tow truck was secured to bring the car to a compound near Naas when a garda in Limerick contacted local gardaí to say there were drugs in the vehicle.
Amphetamines with a street value exceeding €100,000 were found along with over €37,000 worth of Xanax, a prescribed medicine used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
The defendant left by train to go to Limerick, came to Naas garda station the following day and was arrested.
Det Gda Brady said the defendant has 34 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences.
The defendant, who appeared in court by videolink from Cloverhill Prison, also has a conviction for membership of an illegal organisation.
He received four years imprisonment for this in October 2014 and served 18 months for the offence, committed in February 2013.
Det Gda Brady also said the defendant has convictions for assault, public disorder, criminal damage, taking a car and failing to appear in court.
Cross examined by barrister Desmond Hayes, she agreed that his convictions related to a much smaller number of incidents.
She also agreed he had no convictions relevant to a drugs offence.
Mr Hayes said the defendant grew up in unfortunate circumstances and lost his sister to suicide in 2010.
He added the defendant took to alcohol and is a recovering alcoholic.
The defendant's father left the family when he was aged seven, leaving the defendant without a father figure.
His father died an alcoholic.
The court was also told the defendant witnessed domestic violence aimed at his mother.
The defendant has attended programmes to tackle his addiction as well as harm reduction and after care programmes.
He suffered from anxiety and has had suicide attempts and ideations.
He also has five children aged 5-24 and is engaged with the upbringing of the youngest.
The defendant has also worked in a bar in the security industry and as a forklift driver.
He was also involved as a volunteer with a club based in a deprived area of Limerick and this club has “struggled without his involvement.”
Mr Hayes noted that the defendant has already served two years in custody which amounted to two years and seven months when remission time is added.
Judge Mary O’Malley Costello described him as a courier and a cog “in a murky wheel”.
The judge added that countless nameless people are suffering because of the drug problem and she further said heavy sentences are imposed to punish the offender as well as to deter others.
She imposed a nine years custody term with the final six months suspended, with credit being allowed for time served.