Judge claims he will "smash" drug dealers

Judge Sean MacBride told Cavan District Court that he would put every one of the drug dealers in his district behind bars.Kevin Murphy of 46 Dromore, Cootehill, was handed an eight-month prison sentence for having cannabis for sale or supply at Dromore, Cootehill, on November 3. Inspector Seamus Boyle told the court that members from the Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search of the defendant's home, that they met him at the rear door of the house and that he had a jar in his hand, which contained cannabis. More drug paraphernalia was found inside, including eight other bags of cannabis in a jar, two separate cash sums of €180 and €535, believed to be the proceeds of drugs, and a weighing scales. Damien Rudden, solicitor defending, said his client had never been in trouble before. At the time of the offence he broke his collar bone and some ribs. He was off work and his wages were cut. He had a loan out with the bank and he had been a member of the defence forces, but was no longer so. As a result of this he experienced stress. Judge MacBride stated that the defendant brought it on himself: "I have no sympathy for him." The judge said Murphy was a member of the defence forces and he should have known better and that there was "no excuse" for this and he was going to prison. "He is a drug dealer and I'm going to smash all drug dealers in my area. I'm going to put every one of them behind bars." Judge MacBride said he "detested every one of them". He said it was not the first time he came across the defendant, that he was a drug dealer in Cootehill and that he was going to run Murphy out of town. The defendant would not pull the wool over his eyes or the Cavan/Monaghan Drug Unit. Judge MacBride knew what is going on in the county. "If I were a neighbour, I would take the head off you," he said. The defendant was caught red-handed, he added. He knew perfectly well as a former member of the defence forces that drug dealing was "out" and it's no excuse that he broke his collar bone. The judge knew what he was doing in Cootehill and he would "bury" him until he stopped it. "The courts are going to indicate in no uncertain circumstance that people who have drugs for sale or supply will be dealt with severely." Judge MacBride claimed he had intelligence on the matter and he knew who were involved. The defendant was going away for eight months "as simple as that", said Judge MacBride. Mr Rudden stated there was no evidence that his client was involved or was a member of a gang. The judge said he heard what Mr Rudden had said and the submissions he made but enough was enough - "If you are not happy with my decision you can take it to a higher court." The defendant "richly deserves" to go to prison. He directed that the paraphernalia seized by the gardai be destroyed and the money handed over. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal in Murphy's own bond of €3,000 cash. If bail was taken up he was to obey a curfew between 10pm and 7am, sign on daily at Cavan Garda Station between 9am and 9pm, surrender his passport, not to apply for any travel documents, and not to associate with known criminals who had drugs for sale or supply. For more court reports see this weeks Anglo Celt.