Man who smuggled €6k of cannabis in runners told to seek counselling

Man who smuggled €6,000 cannabis in runners told to seek addiction counselling


A DUBLIN man who tried to smuggle over €6,000 worth of cannabis through Ireland West  Airport Knock was before Castlebar Circuit Court last week for a probation report review.
Gary Mulvany of 49 Rafter Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 8 was found with €6,327.18 worth of cannabis hidden in the soles of his runners by customs officers at the airport on June 7, 2012. Mulvany, who has lived in Lanzarote for the past four years, denied bringing the drugs for friends and family, but admitted during a trial last January, that he would ‘smoke a joint or two with them’.
Mulvany pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis and pleaded not guilty to possession for the purpose of sale and supply last January. Mulvany was subsequently found guilty for the sale and supply charge.
In last week’s court defending counsel Diarmuid Connolly said there was ‘no gain intended’ for his client and that he was at the ‘lowest form of supply [sharing a spliff], adding that ‘the nature of supply was more hospitality than anything else’.
The court heard that Mr Mulvany has a chronic addiction to cannabis and brought the cannabis home so he would not have to contact drug dealers offering harder drugs.
Mr Mulvany’s probation report deemed him as ‘moderate risk of re-offending’.
Judge Keenan Johnson stated that Mulvany had not addressed his cannabis addiction and was unemployed, adding that these were issues that needed to be addressed.
Judge Johnson said he was aware that Mulvany has difficulties with his health and was conscious that he is addicted to the drug, but also cited the way in which the drugs were ‘brought in’ as an aggravating factor.
Mr Connolly told the judge that his client is willing to undergo counselling for his addiction and seek employment.
Judge Johnson adjourned the matter until October 18 next in order to review if Mr Mulvany has ‘actively engaged in counselling for his addiction’ and looked for employment.
“It’s in his own interest to seek employment or he’ll be in trouble again,” concluded the judge.