Dublin man avoids jail over €5,100 drug cache found in 2021

A Clondalkin resident received a suspended 18-month term after pleading guilty to holding ketamine, cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply.

Dublin man avoids jail over €5,100 drug cache found in 2021

A 29-year-old from Clondalkin walked free from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with a suspended prison term after admitting he kept narcotics worth over €5,000 at his family home in June 2021.

Sean Hassett, formerly of Mayfield Park, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession for sale or supply. Gardaí who searched the property found ketamine, cannabis and cocaine with a combined street value of roughly €5,100, some of it hidden in wheelie bins in the front garden.

The accused was 24 at the time and told officers straight away that he was storing the haul to clear a personal drug debt, according to Echo.ie.

Because of backlogs in forensic analysis, charges were not filed until early 2026. In the intervening years Hassett moved to Spain, cut ties with troublesome acquaintances and rebuilt his life. His barrister, Rebecca Smith BL, said he provided negative drug tests to the court and is now engaged.

Judge Orla Crowe remarked that the defendant had been heading down a destructive path in 2021 but had since made substantial changes. She pointed out that he had not picked up any new convictions in Ireland or Spain, had returned from abroad for every hearing and had been fully cooperative.

She fixed a headline penalty of two years, cut it to 18 months, and suspended the entire sentence for three years on strict conditions. Hassett already had four minor prior entries on his record, all before this incident.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)