Athy man found with cocaine worth €4,000
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN found with almost €4,000 worth of cocaine will not have his present sentence extended after a judge handed down an 11-month sentence, but ruled it run concurrent with what he is serving already because of an early guilty plea.
James Broughall (29) of Flinter’s Close, Athy appeared recently in Athy District Court in the dock after being brought on a body warrant from prison where he is serving a three year term for a separate conviction earlier this year that was not detailed in court.
The court heard how Mr Broughall was in the passenger seat of a car stopped at checkpoint on Meeting Lane in Athy on 28 March, 2024.
When visiting judge Peter White asked Garda Niall O’Loughlin why he was interested in the passenger, the investigating officer said: “he was known to gardaí, and he was acting very suspicious”.
On searching Mr Broughall, Garda O’Loughlin discovered €3,800 (c.48g) of cocaine and a further €490 in cash.
He was then subsequently charged with possession of drugs and possession of drugs with intent to supply.
As he was in court to plead guilty and finalise the case, the court learned that he had 56 previous convictions, including one sale or supply in 2015 for which he got an 11-month prison sentence.
“That is a sizeable value of drugs,” said Judge White. “And as we know, drugs are destroying lives and families”.
“This is a very serious matter,” he said before handing down the sentence.
“I’ll sentence you to nine months in prison, but I’ll make that concurrent because of your guilty plea.”
