Five months for dealing prescription drugs

A DONEGAL man, currently serving a seven-year sentence for a knife attack on another man in Ballybofey last October, was given concurrent five-month prison terms when brought before Monaghan District Court on charges including possession of prescription only drugs valued at almost €900 for sale or supply purposes.

Tristan McAteer (26) of Market House, Diamond, Castlefin, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to being in possession of 300 alprazolam tablets (more commonly known as ‘Xanax’) valued at €600, and of 136 zopiclone tablets (a type of sleeping pill) worth €272, all for the purpose of sale or supply at Circle K, Coolshannagh, Monaghan Town, on July 22, 2023. He also admitted being in possession of a quantity of drugs for his own use on the same occasion.

Sergeant Lisa McEntee said the defendant had 30 convictions prior to the offences now before the court. It was also confirmed that McAteer is currently serving a prison sentence and not due for release until April 2029.

Joseph Smith BL, who stood in to represent the defendant after Donegal solicitor Rory O’Brien was assigned to the case, said Mr McAteer had intimated to him that he had issues with alcohol and drugs. He had put his name down for help in this regard at Castlerea prison. Having accepted jurisdiction in the case, Judge Raymond Finnegan imposed concurrent five-month prison sentences for each of the sale or supply charges, taking the simple possession of drugs count into consideration.

Donegal sentence

McAteer was given a seven-year prison sentence, with the final year suspended, earlier this month at Letterkenny Circuit Court for attacking Stephen Doherty with a knife in that man’s house in Ballybofey on October 16, 2024.

He had pleaded guilty to two charges including robbery and the production of a knife.

The Letterkenny court was told that McAteer and a woman had been drinking with Mr Doherty earlier in the day before returning to the latter’s house.

While there, they both had attacked him with a knife and screwdriver (in the female’s case) before stealing two televisions and other items.

Stating that there was little that could be said in mitigation for the defendant other than his guilty plea, Judge John Aylmer had imposed the seven-year sentence, with the final year suspended encourage McAteer to engage in his rehabilitation.