This article is from page 8 of the 2006-06-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A MAN who was found in possession of 10 Rohypnol tablets in Ennis took them to help him sleep, according to his solicitor.
Josef Duna (39), a native of the Czech Republic, and with an address at Pineview Estate, Killarney, was, according to gardaí, caught ‘red-handed’ with Rohypnol – commonly known as the date rape drug – and three wraps of speed in Ennis, in July 2005. The street value of the drugs was €110.
His solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said her client had no previous convictions for drugs offences. Duna, she said, worked very hard in the kitchens of a hotel, where he earned €300 a week.
He moved to Ireland a number of years ago and has lived in Kerry for some time.
“He was taking amphetamine to keep him going and was taking the Rohypnol to help him sleep,” she said.
At a previous court hearing in April, Ms Godfrey said Duna – a father of three – was paying over money to an alleged supplier, when gardaí arrived on the scene.
She pointed out that her client was not a regular drug user, and hadn’t taken drugs for five years before the incident before the court.
“He is at a low risk of re-offending. He isn’t taking drugs now,” she said, on that occasion.
Judge Joseph Mangan, who had adjourned the case for a professional report on drug and alcohol abuse to be carried out, fined Duna €400.