By Ronan Judge

A 34-year-old Galway man who stored rock cocaine worth €31,000 in his young son’s bedroom has received a four year prison sentence.

Declan Ward, with an address at 29 Cookes Terrace, Bohermore, pleaded guilty that on August 25, 2023, he was in possession of drugs for sale or supply at a time when the market value of the drugs amounted to €13,000 or more, contrary to section 15 (a) of the Misuse Drugs Act. He also pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply.

At Galway Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan said the accused pleaded guilty to the offence that arose from Gardaí finding rock cocaine valued at €31,000 in the accused’s home address and stored in his six year old son’s bedroom.

Associated paraphernalia including weighing scales and deal bags were also found in the room, the court heard.

Ward said he stored the drugs to pay off a debt and had addiction issues at the time.

Judge O’Callaghan said Ward might have been under duress or the influence of others but “he knew what he was doing”.

He said the accused had expressed remorse and that remorse was best expressed by the signed guilty pleas he entered in the District Court.

Judge O’Callaghan said Ward had a previous conviction for a minor drug possession offence but the court was treating him as “more or less a first time offender”.

However, he said it was the court’s view that the harm done by this type of offending was “extremely significant” and Ward “represents one of the scourges of our society as a convicted drug dealer”.

On the section 15 (a) offence, Judge O’Callaghan set a headline sentence of seven years and a post-mitigation sentence of five years with the final 12 months suspended.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.