*Gardaí made the drugs swoops in July and August 2023.
A 28-year old West Clare man on a carer’s allowance to look after his mother “is facing a significant period in custody” after being caught with just under €300,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis.
That is according to Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court after hearing a senior Garda detective describe Stephen Healy as an “integral part of a drug trafficking operation that was going on in this case”.
In the case, Det Sgt Dara O’Sullivan told the court that Gardaí don’t accept that Mr Healy of The Hand, Cloonalheen East, Miltown Malbay was just holding onto the drugs in the summer of 2023.
He said, “Not with the amount of drug paraphernalia in both places, including a cocaine press, weighing scales and bags”.
Det Sgt O’Sullivan gave evidence that on July 11th 2023, Gardaí recovered €190,470 worth of cocaine and €40,000 of cannabis at a property at Drumatehy, Connolly, Co Clare.
Described in court previously as a ‘typical country lad’ by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Healy evaded capture that night but was arrested by Gardaí on August 13th 2023 after a second drugs swoop by Gardaí on the same date where Gardaí recovered €37,212 worth of cocaine and €31,568 in cannabis at a mobile home at Furoor Upper, Kilkee in West Clare.
Mr Healy has pleaded guilty to two separate Section 15(a) drug dealing offences from the two seizures where the value of the drugs on each date was in excess of €13,000.
The total value of the cocaine and cannabis from the two dates totals €299,250. Mr Healy was also found with cash of €14,645.
At Garda interview, Mr Healy said that he was looking after the drugs and cash as he had a drug debt to pay off.
Mr Healy told the Gardaí, “I am ashamed and I deeply regret it”.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by solicitor, Aisling Casey) said that Mr Healy’s offending activates a suspended prison term imposed in 2022 for the sale and supply of drugs.
Counsel for Mr Healy, Lorcan Connolly SC told the court that Mr Healy lived at home with his mother and received the carer’s allowance to look after his mother who requires the use of a wheelchair.
Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy is very close to his mother, who he said, has her own health difficulties.
On Mr Healy, Mr Connolly said, “That is not someone who is high up in the drugs trade. He is someone who has nothing”.
Mr Connolly said that “the mobile home wasn’t his, the house wasn’t his and vehicles weren’t his”.
Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy “was acting under duress” when handling the drugs and money.
Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy was “previously subject to an assault by dark forces and his mother’s house was damaged”.
Mr Connolly read out extracts of a letter from a former employer of Mr Healy who said that the accused “is not a bad person but is someone who has made bad choices”.
The businessman said that Mr Healy faces a lengthy prison sentence ahead but added that he will do all he can to support him “and I will take him back into employment when he is released”.
The employer said, “I have paid thousands of euro to these horrible people to get them off Stephen’s back”.
Mr Connolly also handed in a written personal plea from Mr Healy’s mother and he described the letter as “genuine and from the heart”.
An offence under Section 15(a) carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years but a judge has the discretion to impose a lesser sentence in certain circumstances.
Mr Connolly said that factors in the case allowed Judge Comerford not to impose the mandatory minimum.
He said that Mr Healy developed a drug addiction “and came under the grip of these people of his own making”.
Mr Connolly said that there was also an early guilty plea in the case and Mr Healy also made extensive submissions.
Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy is a young man and said “there is hope Judge”.
Mr Connolly said Mr Healy is a father of two young children with the youngest only born two months ago while Mr Healy was in custody.
Mr Healy has been on remand in custody since last November.
Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy “assures me that he really wants to turn the corner and really wants to have a bright future”.
Mr Connolly said that a prison governor’s report has confirmed that Mr Healy has received no disciplinary notifications while in custody, is on an enhanced regime and works in the prison kitchen.
Judge Comerford further remanded Mr Healy in custody to next month for sentencing.
