Drugs dealer jailed for three years at Derry Crown Court
Derry man Emmet Sharkey (33) had amassed just over £83,000 in multiple bank accounts by buying drugs online and selling them on to other dealers
A drugs dealer who had amassed just over £83,000 in multiple bank accounts by buying drugs online and selling them on to other dealers, has been jailed for three years at Derry Crown Court.
In sentencing Judge Neil Rafferty KC revoked a previously imposed anonymity order on the defendant who can now be named.
Emmet Sharkey (33) of Leenan Gardens in the Creggan area of Derry admitted the charges which occurred in 2020.
Sharkey, a former kitchen porter and call centre employee, was caught when officers at the East Midlands Airport intercepted a parcel addressed to him on June 26, 2020.
The address on the parcel was the Spacehub at Ballinska Road, Springtown.
The parcel, which contained 346 grams of cannabis, was handed over to the PSNI by officers from the Leicestershire Police Force.
A receipt was found attached to the parcel along with a mobile 'phone number which was subsequently linked to Sharkey.
The police investigations led them to an address at Dervock Place in the Waterside area of the city but Sharkey, who had no previous criminal convictions, had moved to an address at Leenan Gardens.
A mobile 'phone seized by the police from Sharkey was triaged following his arrest in August 2021 and on it the police found drug activity evidence.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in supplying cocaine and cannabis, attempting to possess cannabis with intent to supply and guilty to five charges of transferring criminal property, namely cash.
His bank accounts were also examined and the police found a total of £83,000 in them together with evidence of multiple transactions in and out of the accounts.
Judge Rafferty said the bank accounts contained evidence of payments to suspected suppliers ranging from £1,000 to £8,000.
"There was a very significant amount of money being moved around", he said.
"It is somewhat surprising that this case involves someone who does not consume alcohol nor take illegal drugs", he added.
"My message is clear that those who engage in commercial dealing of illegal drugs can only expect a custodial sentence as a deterrent to others", he told Sharkey.
"You may have gone in over your head. The sums of money were significant and you were retailing illegal drugs", he added.