Hefty fine in court for Kilmacrennan man who admitted to drug dealing

A Kilmacrennan man who admitted to drug dealing has been fined €1,000 in court.

Mark McBride was caught in possession of almost €3,000 when Gardai raided his home.

The 23-year-old, with an address at Rosemount, Kilmacrennan, appeared before Letterkenny District Court.

McBride was before the court charged with being in possession of an illegal drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others. He was also charged with the possession of cannabis and with a money laundering offence.

McBride pleaded guilty and in light of the plea the State agreed to withdraw the money laundering charge.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that at 9am on April 7, 2024 Gardai executed a warrant at McBride’s home under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During the course of a search, cannabis valued at €2,830 was seized. 

McBride made admissions that he had possession for his own use and also to sell to or supply others with. Sergeant Collins said McBride was “fully cooperative and fully contrite”.

Weighing scales and deal bags were also seized in the operation, while detectives also lifted €1,000 in cash. McBride said that €800 of the money was from savings and that €200 was from his dealing.

McBride has one previous conviction, for the possession of drugs in 2020. 

Mr Rory O’Brien, solicitor for McBride, said his client fully cooperated with the investigation.

“He admitted under caution that he had been using very heavily and was advised that to keep the overall amount down for himself he could supply it to friends,” Mr O’Brien said. 

Mr O’Brien said McBride has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has “completely changed” his life since. He said McBride was at “rock bottom” when this incident occurred and he was a chronic cannabis user at the time.

Mr O’Brien said the accused was “scared” of the Gardai entering his home and the experience has been “life altering”.

“He says that he doesn’t use cannabis any more and he has distanced himself from a negative peer group,” the solicitor said, asking the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Emile Daly said the amount of drugs involved was “significant”. In light of the amount, Judge Daly said she initially considered a one-month suspended prison sentence.

“It’s not as if he didn’t know what this was about,” Judge Daly said. 

However, since the incident had become a “pivot point” for McBride, who is now drug-free and working, Judge Daly said a fine could instead be imposed.

“The fine needs to reflect the amount of drugs he was dealing in,” Judge Daly said.

McBride was convicted of being in possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply, He was fined €1,000 and given six months to pay while the charge of possession was marked as taken into consideration.