A LIMERICK man who admitted possessing almost €44,000 worth of drugs for sale has avoided a minimum 10-year jail sentence after a court heard he had turned his life around and beaten a long-standing drug addiction.
Joe Canty, (22), of Glenbrook, Old Singland Road, Limerick, is a “blueprint” for how persons selling large amounts of drugs to pay off their own drug debts can rehabilitate and positively contribute to society, Limerick Circuit Court heard.
Sentencing judge, Dermot Sheehan, said Mr Canty was facing a headline jail sentence of five years, which he reduced to three years and fully suspended after hearing that Canty, who had no previous convictions, had “turned his life around”.
Judge Sheehan accepted that Canty, who pleaded guilty to possessing €43,497.81 worth of cannabis, cocaine, LSD and tablets, developed an addiction to cannabis when he was 15 years of age and during a difficult period in his home-life.
When Gardaí raided Canty’s family home and a shed at the property on October 14, 2021, they discovered the drugs, a cocaine pressing machine, other drug paraphernalia and a small sum of cash which Canty admitted was the proceeds of drug dealing.
Canty was storing the drugs for unidentified people he was in fear of and to whom he had built up a drug debt, the court heard.
At the time Mr Canty was 19, living at home, in receipt of social welfare and had no wealth assets from storing or selling drugs.
Mr Canty smashed a mobile phone in a fit of panic as he approached his home during the garda raid as he feared it might identity others involved.
Gardaí told the court the breaking of the phone was an “error of judgement” by Canty; they also noted that he had got caught up with the wrong people in trying to pay off a €3,000 drug debt.
Mr Canty’s barrister, junior counsel, Maria Brosnan BL, told the judge that Canty “has since completely changed his life around”.
“He has fully addressed his addiction to weed; he’s working as a shop fitter full-time; he cooperated fully with Gardaí and he has expressed extreme remorse.”
“He (Canty) made a massive mistake and he got involved with the wrong people.”
Asking for a non-custodial sentence, Ms Brosnan told Judge Sheehan: “Joe (Canty) is a blueprint for the type of progression he has made, he is constantly pushing to improve himself; he is now a productive member of society, and he has his whole life ahead of him.”
Judge Sheehan said he noted “the harm caused to society by drug dealing” and that the amount of drugs involved carried a minimum mandatory ten-year jail sentence, except in exceptional circumstances.
However, the judge added: “Joe Canty is a truly exceptional case. The Limerick Community Development Project believes Joe Canty is a blueprint for the type of progression he strives for.”
“In the city of Limerick, which has many drug addicts, and many seeking reform, Joe Canty seems to be a blue print of how to move forward.”
The judge suspended the three year sentence but gave the Director of Public Prosecutions liberty to apply to have the sentence activated if Mr Canty reoffends within the next three years.
Judge Sheehan also ordered that Mr Canty provide authorities with a certificate of clear urine analysis to show he continues to remain drug-free.
