Stop selling poison! Judge warns

A THIRD-LEVEL college student caught with a substantial quantity of cannabis at his house in Carrickmacross was given a stern lecture and a 10-month suspended prison sentence, when he made admissions at Monaghan District Court to charges relating to drug dealing and money laundering.

Bendera Abekyamwale (25), of The Oaks, Lough na Glack, Carrickmacross, admitted he had cannabis valued at €4,200 in his possession at that address on March 18, 2025, and that he also had a quantity of the substance for personal use.

Abekyamwale also pleaded guilty to a charge of concealing or disguising the true nature of €1,370 in cash found in his possession on the same occasion, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010.

The court was told by Sergeant Lisa McEntee that a warrant to search the defendant’s property was successfully applied for by Garda Lee McDonnell on March 10, 2025. Gda McDonnell called to the house on the evening of March 18, and the defendant himself opened the front door.

During the search a quantity of cannabis was found, to the value of €4,200, together with drug dealing paraphernalia and electronic devices, all of which was seized. Details from a mobile device were downloaded, again amounting to evidence relating the sale and supply of cannabis. Cash amounting to €1,370 was also uncovered.

Judge Raymond Finnegan asked the defendant what he had to say for himself in relation to “ruining lives with your poison”. He went on to ask Abekyamwale how many suicides he thought he had caused, or people’s mental health he had destroyed.

When pressed again as to why he was “selling poison”, the defendant said he was struggling financially.

This explanation prompted the judge to quip to Sgt McEntee that perhaps the accused should never have been charged at all. The sergeant, in turn, wondered wryly if he should be given back the drugs!

Solicitor Roisin Courtney said she appreciated that the court had very strong views on drug dealing, but stressed in her client’s mitigation that he had offered an early guilty plea. He was originally from Tanzania but in Ireland since he was nine, and he was living with, and close to other, family members.

Continuing, Ms Courtney said Abekyamwale had accepted the error of his ways and that he wouldn’t do it again. He was now at Dundalk Institute, in his second year of an architectural technology course, and he had also arranged summer work to support himself in this regard.

Commenting that, “He’s a great lad altogether, Ms Courtney,” Judge Finnegan imposed consecutive five-month prison sentences for the money laundering and sale and supply offences, but suspended these for 24 months on condition he doesn’t reoffend during that time. In addition, Abekyamwale was given three months to pay a €500 fine for the own-use possession charge.

Judge Finnegan emphasised to the defendant this meant he would be liable to 10 months in prison if he came before the court again.

“Stop selling poison to children,” the judge concluded.