Kildare man threw €1,000 of cocaine from car, court hears 

A MAN described as “the archetypal prodigal son” by his defence was still jailed for 12 months after being convicted on two counts of possession with intent to supply in Newbridge two years ago.

Thomas Clarke (22) of Rathstewart Crescent, Athy appeared in his local District Court this week (12 May) for sentence, having pleaded guilty on a previous date.

The court learned how on 18 April 2024 the guards in Newbridge got a call about a man acting suspiciously in the Whitewater Shopping Centre.

“When we apprehended the defendant we carried out a search and found the drugs in his underwear,” said the investigating officer Garda Maher.

Threw package from car

Though no value was offered for the street value of the cocaine confiscated, its weight was enough to bring the more serious Section 15 charge to bear.

“Then on 14 May 2024 gardaí saw two males acting suspiciously in Morristown (Newbridge),” said Garda Maher.

“We saw Mr Clarke throw a package out of the car, and when we recovered it, found it was €1,000 worth of cocaine,” he testified.

Barrister Hugo Mills said: “At the time of these offences my client was laboring under a severe cocaine addiction which he got into as a teenager.” “At this time, he was told by his father to leave the house because he had a zero tolerance policy.

“However, he is two years clean, now has a partner and a seven-month-old child, and has made a reconciliation with his family, and is back in the family home,” he added, as he handed in a letter of verification from the father to prove this.

“These are very serious offences, but he has made an exemplary effort with his recovery.

“He has reconciled with his parents and is working a full-time job, 50 hours a week.

“I would ask if he could make a donation,” said Mr Mills.

Send a message

“The downside of drugs is plain to see, on their loved ones and society as a whole,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan as he shook his head towards Mr Mills’s entreaty.

“Unfortunately the godfather, or godmother where he bought from will not be named and are so protected from the law, the court has to send out a message to the foot soldiers,” said the judge.

He sentenced Mr Clarke to six months in prison on each of the Section 15 charges, and ordered they run consecutively, but allowed for a glimmer of hope.

“I will set the bond low so he can get a second chance in the High Court,” he concluded, ruling it be just €250.