This article is from page 15 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
A MAN who was “caught red handed” with ten Rohypnol tablets claimed in court that he took them to come down off another drug.
Josef Duna (39), of Pineview Estate, Killarney, and who is originally from the Czech Republic, admitted possessing the Rohypnol tablets – commonly known as the date rape drug – and three wraps of speed, in Ennis, in July 2005.
The court was told the street value of the drugs was €110.
Defending solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said her client paid over money to the alleged supplier when gardaí arrived on the scene.
She said her client, a father-ofthree and a kitchen porter, moved to Ireland six years ago. He hadn’t taken drugs for five years before this incident and was not a regular drug user, she said. The solicitor pointed out that one of the uses for Rohypnol was for an acute sleep disorder.
“The speed he was found with is a particularly potent form of speed. The Rohypnol tablets were to come down off the speed,” she said.
She said her client was in a position to offer money to the court poorbox and that he was at a low risk of reoffending.
Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case, to allow for a professional report on drug and alcohol abuse to be carried out.