*Harry Dinan.
The convicted killer of a Clare school teacher knows that he is going to prison for drug dealing after getting ‘caught rotten’, a court has heard.
In the case, Harry Dinan (44) of Oakwood Drive, Ennis, has pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to having in his possession cannabis with a market value in excess of €13,000 on November 14th 2022 at Ballybeg Woods, Ennis for the purpose of selling contrary to Section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.
In November 2015, Mr Dinan was released from prison after spending six years in jail for the manslaughter of Lissycasey school teacher, Brian Casey.
On the 26th of December 2009, Mr Casey (26) died after being victim to what Mr Justice Liam McKechnie described previously as an “utterly unprovoked, cowardly, brutal and grossly violent” assault by Harry Dinan – then aged 29 – and his nephew, Kevin Dinan on the man.
Mr Justice McKechnie said that Mr Casey was a “totally innocent’’ bystander in the unprovoked assault and was caught off guard by a severe ‘haymaker’ punch inflicted by Harry Dinan.
Seeking an adjournment at Ennis Circuit Court in Mr Dinan’s sentencing for the drugs offence, Patrick Whyms BL (instructed by solicitor, Tara Godfrey) said that Harry Dinan “knows he is going to prison”.
He said that “this is a Section 15(a) offence”, remarking that his client “was caught rotten”.
Mr Whyms said that he was applying for an adjournment in sentencing due to his client’s ill health.
He said that on a recent night at home, Mr Dinan became ill through extreme shortness of breath.
Mr Whyms said that an ambulance was summoned to his house and he was brought to hospital by ambulance and was detained there for three nights based on medical advice.
Mr Whyms said that Mr Dinan was discharged on a course of medication and he has brought his bag of medicines with him to court.
Making the case for an adjournment, Mr Whyms said, “Mr Dinan is not well. He is very chesty, has fluid in his lungs. He has no energy. He was unable to drive here. He got a taxi here”.
Mr Whyms said Mr Dinan made very significant admissions at Garda interview and has pleaded guilty to the most serious charge.
Mr Whyms said that Mr Dinan “knows he is going to prison” and “it is all the more reason not to lock him up in the condition he is in at the moment”.
Mr Whyms said that Mr Dinan “was discharged from hospital on the basis that he would be able to continue his recuperation”.
Judge Comerford suggested hearing the Garda evidence against Mr Dinan and Mr Whyms objected “because Mr Dinan is not well, he is struggling. He struggles to have a conversation. He struggled to come up the steps of the courthouse”
Judge Comerford adjourned sentencing to July 7th and further remanded Mr Dinan on bail to that date.
