Convicted of drug dealing at Department of Psychiatry - Kilkenny Live

A defendant who admitted having drugs in his possession for personal use and for sale and supply to others at the Department of Psychiatry at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny was handed down a ten-month prison sentence.

Nicholas Campion, 75 Newpark Close, Kilkenny admitted the offences at the Department of Psychiatry at St Luke’s Hospital on November 9, 2022 and for having drugs on his possession for personal use at Kilkenny Garda Station on November 8, 2022.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor outlined to the court that on November 9, 2022 gardaí received a report of drugs that were intercepted at the Department of Psychiatry at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny.

Sgt O’Connor told the court that on that date a bag of clothes were dropped for a male and €200 was handed over to the person who had the bag which was then intercepted by staff. Inside the bag was a bottle which purported to contain shower gel. Concealed inside the bottle was a bag containing cannabis.

The court heard that the defendant has eighty previous convictions including convictions for violent disorder, assault causing harm, drugs offences and burglaries.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that his client wished to apologise to the court and added that he had also made full admissions to gardaí.

“I would just like to apologise it was a stupid idea,” he said.

Mr Hogan also told the court that someone who was known to the defendant had ‘put pressure on him to drop up the drugs’.

“He is now living with his partner in North Kilkenny and is in employment and has disassociated himself from his negative peer group. At the time of these offences he had a difficult with drugs. He is now clean and sober,” added Mr Hogan.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said that she found the offence details ‘somewhat concerning’.

The judge convicted the defendant and sentenced him to ten months in prison. Recognisances were set in the event of an appeal on his own bond of €500 and subject to conditions including that he stay out of Kilkenny except for court appearances and medical appointments, that he follow sign on conditions and that he comply with a curfew