Suspended jail sentence for Mayo man with long history of addiction

A CASTLEBAR man with a long history of addiction has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting possession of cannabis.

Eamon Hanrahan, Apartment 2, 26 Spencer Street, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court in connection with offences under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The court heard that the matter had been before the court on a number of previous occasions, during which no one had appeared on behalf of Eamon Hanrahan.

On this occasion, defence solicitor Cathy McDarby indicated that she was prepared to finalise the case on Hanrahan’s behalf.

A guilty plea was entered in respect of a possession offence on June 21, 2023.

Gardaí told the court that at approximately 6.40 p.m. in the Springfield area of Castlebar, Hanrahan was stopped and searched, and cannabis with an estimated value of €552 was recovered.

Ms. McDarby outlined her client’s personal circumstances, telling the court that Hanrahan had three adult children and grandchildren and was engaged in a community employment scheme.

A probation report was furnished to the court.

She said that the defendant had endured a very difficult childhood and had a long history of substance abuse, beginning in his mid-20s with aerosols and later a heroin addiction.

He completed a residential treatment programme in 2000 and has been free from heroin and methadone since 2011.

Ms. McDarby said her client had used cannabis throughout his adult life and had resumed use in more recent years while living beside friends who were also struggling with addiction.

However, she explained he is now living in rented mobile home accommodation away from those individuals.

The court heard that Hanrahan is engaging with an addiction counsellor and is not being asked to stop abruptly, but rather to reduce his usage in a managed way.

He has also undertaken studies in social studies, psychology and addiction at ATU and is attending regular counselling sessions.

Ms. McDarby said Hanrahan had accepted an invitation to speak to a college class about addiction, describing how he had “laid bare” his life and personal struggles in an effort to educate others.

She said he had not come to garda attention since 2023 and was making genuine efforts to move forward, despite his previous convictions continuing to weigh against him in formal risk assessments outlined in his probation report.

Judge Sandra Murphy was told that the defendant had 24 previous convictions.

Convicting Hanrahan, Judge Murphy imposed a sentence of three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on strict conditions.

These include engaging with the Probation Service, attending adult mental health services and continuing to engage with addiction counselling.

The judge granted liberty to re-enter in the event of any breach.

Judge Murphy said she accepted that Hanrahan was trying his best and told him she did not want to see him back before the court again.

The court also heard that legal aid was transferred from Mr. Shanley to Mr. Conor Ruane.

* Published under the Courts Repirting Scheme.