A 23 year-old Brazilian national who was found with over €700 worth of cannabis along with cash made a “stupid decision” to go down the road of involvement in drugs, his solicitor explained at Trim District Court. Daniel Cahalane told that Wendully Monteiro Vargas of Balreask Woods, Navan was living in Ireland ten years. At the time he was stopped and searched he was not working.
He lost his father the year before which affected him greatly. Judge Eirinn McKiernan said at Tuesday’s sitting of the court all he had going for him was he pleaded guilty and fully co-operated with Gardai. There was no excuse for selling drugs instead of going out and working. The judge pointed out that selling drugs destroyed lives, and was a “very serious line to cross.”
She first sentenced the defendant to four months in jail. She reduced the sentence to two months, and to a plea by Mr Cahalane to suspend it, replied “absolutely not.” She fixed bail of self €200 and independent surety of €500 cash to appeal. The defendant appeared charged on two counts for possession of cannabis and possessing the drug for sale or supply.
These resulted when Garda Quegan stopped a Ford Focus after observing a faulty rear light on the vehicle at Aldi car park Brews Hill, Navan on March 4 last year. Sergeant Alan Ratcliffe said the Garda detected a strong smell of cannabis when he approached the vehicle. The driver was extremely nervous and agitated.
The Garda carried out a search and found €712 worth of cannabis in a shopping bag, along with €100 in €10 notes and €265 cash. The Sergeant said the defendant admitted he was in possession of the drug for sale or supply. He had three previous convictions for road traffic offences.
