Prison sentence for Offaly man convicted of drugs and road traffic offences

A DEFENDANT from Edenderry was charged with a number of drugs and road traffic offences during last week's sitting of Tullamore Court.

Aaron Holt, 29 Castleview Park, Edenderry, was charged with being in possession of cocaine and dangerous driving, amongst a number of other offences. He pleaded guilty.

Garda Tom Dunne told the court that on November 10, 2022 he was on mobile patrol in Edenderry when he saw a vehicle acting in a suspicious manner.

“He drove away from me when I asked him to pull over,” said the Garda.

“He drove into the Sycamores housing estate. He drove into a cul de sac and then tried to get away on foot but we caught up with him, and arrested him, for dangerous driving in the area. We found a small quantity of cannabis, €10 worth, in the vehicle. In the Garda Station a sample was taken and showed us that there was cocaine in his system when he was driving.”

It was just before nine in the morning when Mr Holt committed the dangerous driving offence and there were children going to school at the time. He also had no insurance and no driving licence.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that the defendant had 31 previous convictions including dangerous driving, criminal damage, possession of drugs, and driving while intoxicated. He also had eight convictions for driving with no insurance.

Mr Holt was also charged with being in possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply at 29 Castleview Park Edenderry on September 14 last.

He was charged with having diamorphine in his possession for sale or supply on the 4th of July 2023 at Downshire Apartments Edenderry.

The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly said his client is 25 years of age and has four children.

“He has a job starting next week in the construction sector and he hopes to build up enough money to pay €10,000 in compensation in a Circuit Court case he's involved in."

Judge Andrew Cody convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment. He disqualified him from driving for ten years.