BIGGIE HAUL |
Christopher Wallace (55) Cregan Avenue, Kileely, Limerick, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of €60,000 worth of cocaine
Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
A father of three, who stored a “significant” amount of cocaine for a local drug gang, in order to pay off gambling debts, has been given a fully suspended three-year prison sentence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Christopher Wallace, (55), Cregan Avenue, Kileely, Limerick, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of €60,000 worth of cocaine, at his home, in March 2024.
The court heard that Gardaí received confidential information that Wallace had the drugs at his home and obtained a search warrant to search the property.
Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
News in 90 Seconds – Friday, November 7
During the search Gardaí recovered 1kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of €60,000, as well as a cocaine mixing agent, benzocaine, which were hidden inside a shed located at Wallace’s home.
Wallace told Gardaí he agreed to store the drugs and mixing agent in order to receive money to pay off a money lender whom he had taken out a loan in order to pay off gambling debts.
“The accused was holding a significant amount of cocaine, which is a very serious drug,” said sentencing Judge Colin Daly.
“The accused involved himself in organised crime, criminality, and had become part of the scourge of organised crime and drugs.”
The judge noted that Wallace pleaded guilty to possessing for sale or supply drugs worth more than €13,000, which, is contrary to section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, unless there are exceptional and specific mitigatory circumstances involved.
The judge said he was satisfied that the appropriate headline sentence for the father of three was one of five years in prison.
Taking into account mitigating factors, including Wallace’s early guilty plea, genuine remorse, and his material assistance to the Garda investiagtion, the judge reduced the sentence to three years,which he fully suspended.
Gardai agreed with the judge that Wallace was likely compromised due to having a gambling addiction, that he had lost his job of seventeen years, and that he was at low risk of re-offending.
The court heard that a probation report in repeat of Wallace was positive and that he had great potential for rehabilitation.