Frank Doonan (60), with an address in Bray Co. Wicklow, was charged with possession of more than €9,500 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Court.
Detective Ryan O’Neil of Bray Garda Station testified that on a date in late 2024, gardaí received intelligence alerting them to Mr Doonan’s offending, the court was informed that gardaí raided his home and also searched his vehicle, where they discovered €9,714 worth of cannabis, baggies and a weighing scale.
The court was informed that Mr Doonan had 50 previous convictions dating back to the early 1980’s for serious offences such as assault, larceny and criminal damage, but that his last conviction came in 2013, and he has not come to the attention of gardaí since.
Detective O’Neil told the court that Mr Doonan made full admissions when charged and admitted to “supplying and selling it to cover his own habit”.
Edmund Sweetman BL, barrister for the defence and instructed by Joe Maguire of Maguire McNiece Solicitors, asked Detective O’Neil whether he believed the accused had flashy cars or significant wealth. Detective O’Neil replied: “No, I don’t believe so.”
Mr Sweetman also asked Detective O’Neil whether any cash was seized during the raid and suggested that profit was not his client’s motive. Detective O’Neil confirmed that no cash had been seized.
Bray Courthouse.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds, Monday, October 13
The court heard that, since June 2025, Mr Doonan has been linked in with BCAT (Bray Community Addiction Team). He has become drug free and is motivated to continue attending recovery meetings provided by BCAT.
Mr Sweetman told the court that his client suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he also suffers from a severe limp. He also must give clean urine samples weekly.
Judge Patrick Quinn, when sentencing, told the court that he took all the defendant’s circumstances into account. He handed down a sentence of 30 months, with the final 18 months suspended. He ruled that upon release Mr Doonan must have full compliance with the Probation Service and give permission to a complete urine analysis.
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