Avoided conviction in Carlow District Court for selling cocaine - Courts - Carlow Nationalist

Avoided conviction in Carlow District Court for selling cocaine - Courts - Carlow Nationalist

A MAN who was found with over €900 of cocaine several years ago avoided a conviction at Carlow District Court recently.

Kevin Higgins (28) Moyadd, The Swan, Co Laois pleaded guilty to possession of €936 worth of cocaine on 8 August 2020 for sale or supply at Tullow Street, Carlow.

His solicitor Joe Farrell said two years after his arrest and with garda permission, Mr Higgins went to Australia. On his return, he contacted gardaí and attempted to have the conviction process expedited. He is now completing an apprenticeship and is well supported by his family.

Addressing Mr Higgins, Judge Geraldine Carthy said: “You came to realise if you didn’t do something, you would end up in prison or worse.” She noted he went to a drug counsellor, "acted as proactively and positively as you could” and has not come to adverse garda attention since then.

She asked him to donate €1,000 to the court poor box and advised him if he did so, she would apply the Probation Act.