A CONVICTED drug dealer had to “spirit away” his children to escape the media storm created by a reference letter written on his behalf by Fianna Fail Justice spokesman Niall Collins.
At Limerick Circuit Court earlier this year, Hugo Porter (40) of St Patrick’s Villas, Castleconnell admitted possession of €17,500 worth of cannabis on June 24, 2011. His co-accused, Alan Lysaght (39) of Scanlon Park, Castleconnell, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final year suspended.
Testimonials were handed into the court including one from Deputy Collins asking the Judge to consider leniency for Mr Porter, who also faces the possibility of having to serve a two year prison sentence that was suspended in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to a ‘glassing’ offence in County Clare,
According to defence counsel Michael Collins, pictured above, those “letters and testimonials became the subject matter of a media circus and political gain for others.
“Certain shrill comments from a letter seemed to suggest that this was an attempt to pervert the course of justice which is far from the truth”.
He said that sections of the media were camped outside Mr Porter’s doorstep and he had to gain access to his own home through the back door. He had to spirit away his four boys on a camping trip to avoid the media circus.
“This politicising of the matter was inappropriate and I look poorly on those who sought to use the issue for political gain”, he said.
At last week’s sentencing hearing, Hugo Porter’s personal circumstances were outlined by his defence counsel who said that he was the father of four young sons and was widowed in tragic circumstances last year.
Criticising the newspaper coverage which he said he expected from the “red tops”, Mr Collins said the story also attracted extensive front page coverage in the broadsheet press.
Judge Carroll Moran interjected and said he was aware of what Mr Collins was talking about but insisted it had “no bearing on what happens in this case”.
Counsel for the State John O’Sullivan said that the letter was submitted in evidence in a criminal trial and therefore it became a public document. The court also had to consider the activation of a two year suspended sentence from a Clare case but the file was not present in court.
Asking Judge Moran not to impose a custodial sentence, Mr Collins said the circumstances in Mr Porter’s case were “wholly exceptional” given the impact a custodial sentence would have on his family.
Sentencing was adjourned until later this Thursday.
