Drug dealer gets suspended sentence after judge notes ’61 people on mattresses in prison’ - Courts News Ireland

A Galway man who has now been twice convicted of drug dealing in his own community has been given a fully suspended sentence, after a judge noted they were currently “61 people on mattresses in Castlerea Prison”. Ethan Casey (31) of St Joseph’s Place, Ballinasloe, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of the possession of drugs for

A Galway man who has now been twice convicted of drug dealing in his own community has been given a fully suspended sentence, after a judge noted they were currently “61 people on mattresses in Castlerea Prison”.

Ethan Casey (31) of St Joseph’s Place, Ballinasloe, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of the possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home address on May 27, 2023.

Passing sentence, Judge Brian O’Callaghan said Casey is a drug dealer and this is the second time he has been convicted of drug dealing in his own community.

The judge said that Casey, who had addiction issues, should know the damage that drug-dealing does to people in every part of society.

Judge O’Callaghan said an aggravating factor was the fact that weighing scales and deal bags were found in Casey’s bedroom along with cannabis and cocaine.

The judge said Casey is still a young man however and has time to change his ways. He noted he entered an early guilty plea and co-operated, making some admissions to gardai. The judge also acknowledged Casey’s own personal addiction issues.

Judge O’Callaghan said there were currently 61 people on mattresses in Castlerea Prison and he would not impose an immediate custodial sentence.

He sentenced Casey to four years in prison, which he suspended in full for three years. He also placed him under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months and instructed Casey to carry out all directions deemed necessary by them.

Garda Eoin Fox told Brendan McDonagh BL, prosecuting, that gardai obtained a search warrant for Casey’s home on the date in question. On searching the property, they found suspected cannabis herb and cocaine in his bedroom, along with the drugs paraphernalia.

When arrested and questioned, Casey told gardai that the drugs were for his own personal use and denied he was involved in the sale or supply of drugs. The drugs were sent for analysis, with cannabis to the value of €6,710 and cocaine with a value of €805 confirmed.

Gda Fox said it is the belief of gardai that Casey is still involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs, but that they don’t know if he is doing it of his own free will or as a result of being under duress.

Gda Fox agreed with Brendan Bourke BL, defending, that his client had a drug addiction at the time.

Mr Bourke said Casey entered a plea on a full-facts basis and was co-operative with gardai. He said a probation report before the court places Casey as a low risk of re-offending in the next 12 months.

Counsel said his client has had mental health difficulties and plans to take up the ‘Crime For Life’ prevention programme in the coming weeks.

He handed a booklet of documents to the court on behalf of his client, including a letter from Casey’s employer, a letter from his mother and a HSE report.