Pig farmer avoids jail after drugs operated busted in Paddy's Day raid

A Donegal pig farmer who set up an 'amateur' drug-dealing business on the side has avoided going to prison.

Brendan McDermott and his co-accused, Danielle McDaid - his former partner - appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court after Gardai swooped on the home the couple shared and found €4,450 worth of ecstasy tablets on St Patrick's Day.

Detective Garda Jason Conroy told Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecutor for the State, that as well as the drugs, they also found weighing scales and zip-lock bags in the house at Donagh Park, Carndonagh March 17, 2021.

McDermott, a 38-year-old with an address at Glengad Mountain, Malin, had pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale and supply while 37-year-old Danielle McDaid, admitted being in possession of the drugs.

Detective Conroy said yellow tablets were found in plastic bags at various locations throughout the house with a total of 445 tablets being recovered.

When analysed by Forensic Science Ireland, the tablets were identified as MDMA ( methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or ecstasy.

A quantity of cocaine was also found on two plates in one of the bedrooms in the house.

When questioned by Gardai, McDermott said he owned the drugs and that he was selling them to mates for a couple of euro each.

McDaid arrived back in the house while Gardai were there and when Gardai found the drugs she said they were obviously to sell.

The court was told that when McDaid was being questioned by Gardai she said: "This is the part where I'm supposed to say nothing."

McDermott was arrested and taken to Buncrana Garda Stations where he made full admissions saying he was going to sell them to friends for €2 each.

He was surprised when told the street value of the drug with Gardai placing a €10 value on each tablet saying: "Jesus, that's a bit much."

McDermott has 14 previous convictions for various offences including public order, dangerous driving, drink-driving and having no insurance but none for drugs while McDaid has two previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Barrister for McDermott, Mr Peter Nolan BL, told the court that no money had been found at the property and that his client had only commenced selling the drugs to his friends.

He said McDermott was a pig farmer and father-of-two who now lived at home and was also a carer for his mother and father who were in their 80s.

Mr Nolan said his client took full responsibility for his actions which he undertook to supplement his income by selling a few tablets which he described as a "entirely naive approach" saying McDermott now realises the "stupidity of his actions."

He asked Judge John Aylmer to be as lenient as possible given his client's early plea and cooperation.

Barrister for McDaid, Mr Ciaran O'Rourke BL, said his client is not involved in drugs, does not take them and had cooperated fully with Gardai.

Mr O'Rourke said that McDermott had been asked in interview if McDaid was involved and he said the drugs were his and that he had asked her to hide them.

He added that his client is 37 and the situation was that she was asked to hide a packet of drugs by a person she was in an intimate relationship with at the time.

He said she now recognised the harm of drugs to society and to her family but stressed she had entered an early plea, was fully cooperative and urged the court to take a non-custodial option with Ms McDaid.

Passing sentence on McDermott, Judge Aylmer said the offence was a serious one albeit on the lower end of the scale saying he foolishly decided to supplement his income by selling a few tablets for a fraction of their value.

Before mitigation he said the offence merited a prison sentence of 18 months.

In mitigation, he said McDermott has cooperated fully, was remorseful and that this will have been a considerable fright for him and that he now realises his stupidity.

He reduced the sentence to one of 12 months but because this was his first conviction for drugs offences he took the view that he should replace this with 240 hours of community service adding that McDermott should consider himself very lucky.

"If I ever see him before this court again on such an offence I will have no hesitation in imposing a custodial sentence," warned the Judge.

Turning to McDaid, he also placed this at the lower end of the scale noting she was not before the court for the sale or supply of drugs.

He said she was clearly aware of her right to remain silent but nevertheless cooperated and gave a full account of her involvement.

He noted she had no previous offences for drugs and her only previous convictions were for minor road traffic matters adding she had also shown remorse and was apologetic.

He said that although she was suitable for community service, he felt the matter would be more appropriately disposed of by way of a fine.

He fined mother-of-three McDaid €500 and allowed her six months to pay.