Kildare Santa charity to benefit from drug money

IN A bizarre twist of fate, it looks like Santa Claus may get some benefit from cocaine this year, following a mildly surreal case in Naas last week that even involved just the hint of a prison riot.

Appearing in Naas District Court by videolink from custody in Cloverhill Prison was Thomas Kavanagh (38), with an address at Ripley Court Hotel, Talbot Street, Dublin 1 on one charge sheet, and at Peter McVerry Trust on a number of others.

Mr Kavanagh had been charged with possession (section 3), and possession with intent to supply (section 15), of €640 of cocaine at Anne Street in Prosperous on 5 December 2021.

According to his solicitor Tim Kennelly, Mr Kavanagh was convicted last week in a contested case that relied on the testimony of the garda who saw him toss the drugs into a bush.

“There was no DNA evidence on it,” said Mr Kennelly.

“And now he wants to plead guilty?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.

Seeking some clarity on the matter, he turned to his screen to address Mr Kavanagh, but was met with an empty chair.

“Cloverhill’s a bit slow today,” he commented, before a mildly-flustered prison guard came on and said: “Apologies, judge. We seem to have some security issues here this morning.” 

While the court waited, Judge Zaidan noted the charge concerned €640 worth of cocaine, and €955 in cash, “which is to be forfeited to the state”.

Eventually Mr Kavanagh showed up on screen, and the judge turned to the now-seated defendant and saying: “You look refreshed.” 

“Thanks, judge, I want to finalise things today,” said the defendant.

“Did you get sentenced in the CCJ?” asked his solicitor Mr Kennelly, referring to an unrelated trial of his client in the Criminal Courts of Justice earlier in the week.

“No, sentencing was adjourned until December,” Mr Kavanagh clarified.

“Okay. I would advise for sentencing here to be after sentencing in the CCJ so we can see better where we are,” said Mr Kennelly to his televised client.

“Any sentence I’ll give you in December I will backdate it to last week, 16 October,” said the judge.

“Thank you,” said the defendant.

Then the judge turned to the issue of the forfeiture of the seized €955, when Mr Kennelly came up with a seasonal suggestion.

“Judge, could you allocate the €955 to the Friends of Santa charity in Newbridge, who help families who can’t afford Santa?” he proposed.

“That’s a very good cause,” noted the judge, as Sergeant Dave Hanrahan – who usually nominates the good causes after forfeiture – nodded in assent.

“He has pleaded guilty to everything?” checked the judge, noting that Mr Kavanagh also had 11 summonses in the minute book for a raft of road traffic offences, and the sergeant again nodded.

“He will stay in custody until the CCJ sentence in December,” the judge confirmed, as Mr Kavanagh stood to return to his cell and await his fate.