Court told man with €600 of drugs, €1,500 and deal bags was not a dealer

May 10, 2022

A man caught with €605 of cannabis, €1,500 cash, a weighing scales and deal bags was not a commercial drug dealer, a local court has been told.

Matthew Coyle was arrested at his home at Middle Cottage, Old Town Road in Letterkenny on March 3rd, 2019.

During the search officers found 40 grammes of cannabis worth an estimated €605 as well as the cash, weighing scales and ‘deal bags.’

Coyle, 29, came before Letterkenny District Court, after being charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply to others.

However, his solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client, who has no previous convictions, was only supplying the drugs to his friends and stressed this was not “a commercial enterprise.”

Mr Dorrian said his client was not working because of a number of health issues.

Judge Patricia Cronin pointed out that a previous court sitting has suggested that Coyle serve community service but this had not been possible because of Covid.

However, he had engaged with the Probation Services and had “done all that was asked of him” during that time.

She applied the Probation Act and ordered that the cash seized be handed over to the local branch of St Vincent de Paul.

LEAVE A COMMENT