Ten months in jail and 15-year driving ban
A Cavan man has been jailed for a total of 10 months and banned from driving for 15 years after pleading guilty to a series of offences at Cavan District Court.
Ryan Galligan appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan via video-link from Castlerea Prison where he has been held following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Cavan court.
Galligan (33) with addresses at St Martin's Estate, Cavan Town; at Cluain Alainn, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim; and also Shangan Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to all charges before the court.
The defendant was represented in court by Joseph Smith BL, who told the judge that his client was “clean” from all illicit substances for “over one year”.
Garda Patrick Reilly stopped Galligan at Ballyjamesduff on October 9, 2023, where the defendant subsequently provided a blood specimen that tested positive for cannabis. A demand was made for Galligan to produce proof of insurance and his licence but he failed to present either at a nominated garda station.
On another charge gardaí charged Galligan with four counts each of possession and possession for the purposes of sale and supply after he was found with alprazolam (€88), cocaine (€70), cannabis (€160), and zopiclone (€178) at Shangan Road, Ballymun, on November 7, 2024.
He was he was also caught with diazepam at his Carrigallen address on June 10, 2020.
The court heard that Galligan had 60 previous convictions at the time, including six for driving with no insurance.
A prior for possession of drugs for sale and supply, for which Galligan got a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, was triggered by these latest convictions.
Mr Smith admitted to the judge that Galligan has been before the courts “many times”.
He said the majority of Galligan's life has been marred by addiction to drugs, but that he is now clean.
“It's clear he wants to stay that way,” said Mr Smith.
“They're very serious charges,” said Judge Finnegan, adding that he'd deal with Galligan as he has dealt with other “drug dealers” in the past.
“How many lives has he destroyed pedalling that muck?” he asked. “That must be reflected in the sentence.”
However he said, given the high demand on prison spaces at present, the judge wouldn't be surprised, regardless of the length of stay imposed, if Galligan was out and back on the streets within 24 hours.
“There are no prison places,” fumed Judge Finnegan. “It's going to have to be addressed by people in much higher office than here.”
He imposed five month sentences on the one of the sale and supply and the drug driving charges, banning Galligan from holding a licence for the next 15 years.
He added another five months to be served, consecutively, on a second sale and supply offence, taking into account all others.
Legal aid was granted.