A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who was caught holding more than €25,000 worth of cocaine has been given a suspended sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The now 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told gardaí that he had been paid €50 to store the drugs, which were found behind his bed, in a vent in his room and in the rafters in a garden shed.
Garrett Baker, defending, told Judge Delahunt that it was a “shocking case” which he said demonstrated that “drug barons are now willing to stoop so low to get children as young as 14 to store their drugs”.
The teenager pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at his Dublin home on July 24th, 2007. He had no previous convictions.
Judge Delahunt said she believed it would be better for him to continue his rehabilitation in the community with the help of the Probation Service.
She imposed a three-year sentence which she suspended for five years on strict conditions.
Garda Patrick Monaghan told Michael Bowman, prosecuting, that the accused would not tell gardaí who he was holding the drugs for because he claimed he was in fear of them.
Mr Baker said that his client has two further charges pending in the Children’s Court, which are not drug related, but he said he has since attended the Probation Service.