This article is from page 7 of the 2014-07-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
AN unemployed electrician whom a court heard spent € 700 a week on drugs has been sentenced to 11 months in prison.
Shane Kerin (26) became involved in drug dealing in order to fund his own habits, Ennis District Court heard on Tuesday.
Mr Kerin, with addresses at Connolly Villas, Ennis, and Stonecourt, Ennis, pleaded guilty to multiple drugs offences committed between April and October, 2013.
He pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine at Ennis Garda Station on April 9; possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Connolly Villas on April 25 and possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine also at Connolly Villas on April 25;
He further admitted charges of possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Gort Road, Ennis on October 13.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care or attention
Detective Garda Dominic Regan of Ennis Garda Station explained Mr Kerin drove away from gardaí at speed when they attempted to stop him on the night in question.
The court heard he was eventually halted near the Aughanteeroe hous- ing estate. Mr Kerin pleaded guilty to using a forged prescription at Flynn’s Pharmacy, Gort Road, Ennis, on October 15. The court heard he altered the prescription to include the addition of 90 xanax tablets.
He further admitted a charge of having cocaine for sale or supply at Sandfield Hall, Ennis on October 24.
Defence solicitor John Casey said his client’s father died in tragic circumstances when he was young. He said Mr Kerin left school at 16 but qualified as an electrician. He said Mr Kerin, normally a nice, quite young man, started smoking cannabis before moving onto prescription drugs, cocaine and then heroin.
Mr Casey said his client’s condition deteriorated in recent months.
“He has gone down. And the only way I can describe it is like speaking to someone under water,” Mr Casey explained.
He said a report furnished to the court disclosed that Mr Kerin was spending € 100 a day on drugs.
Judge Patrick Durcan said there was no evidence Mr Kerin had won the Lotto. He said the € 700 had to come from somewhere. Mr Casey said Mr Kerin sold drugs in order to support his habit.
He urged the court to follow the recommendation of the Probation Services and adjourn the matter for three months to allow his client to re-engage with addiction treatment services.
Judge Durcan said he was not impressed that the accused had not engaged fully with the services to take the steps required to deal with his addiction.
Asked for his view on the accused’s situation, Det Gda Regan said Mr Kerin has a “serious heroin addiction”. He said he could not see Mr Kerin’s life improving until he beats the addiction.
Judge Durcan said this was a young man who committed “very serious offences”.
The Judge said that he was not satisfied on the basis of the evidence that Mr Kerin has engaged in any meaningful way with the services.
He said he was not prepared to accept the recommendations of the Probation Services, neither was he compelled by the arguments of the defence.
In sentencing, Jude Durcan also noted the accused was spending € 700 a week on drugs.
He said he was drawn to the conclusion that that burden was in some way borne by society.
He imposed sentences totalling 11 months and fixed recognizance’s in the event Mr Kerin decides to appeal.