Eoin Breen (33), with an address at Millbrook Court, Naas, County Kildare, appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing.
Mr Breen pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled drug for the purpose of supplying another, contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Detective Garda Kellie Kearney testified that in July 2024 gardaí became aware of a package containing cocaine with an estimated street value of €70,000.
A joint operation between the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, the Bray District Drugs Unit and Revenue’s Customs Service led to a controlled drug delivery.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, told the court that gardaí disguised themselves as DPD delivery drivers before delivering the cocaine to a house in Blessington.
The accused signed for the package before being arrested. Mr Kelly noted that Mr Breen was cooperative and made full admissions during interview.
When questioned by senior counsel for the defence Paul Murray, Det Kearney informed the court that during interview Mr Breen told gardaí he was instructed by his boss, with whom he was doing electrical work, to collect the package.
Mr Breen disclosed that his boss “is a dangerous person” and, when asked if he owed him money, he answered yes.
Mr Murray remarked that Mr Breen entered an early guilty plea and previously spent five years in the army. “Mr Breen has done a tour abroad and served his country,” said Mr Murray.
The court heard that the defendant’s father was “cruel towards him in his childhood”, which led to unresolved issues before he found “refuge in cannabis”.
Defence counsel noted that Mr Breen’s father abused him during his childhood, which led to his mother obtaining a protection order against him.
However, the court heard that Mr Breen has struggled with a cannabis addiction and has since provided multiple clean urine samples.
A testimonial from Eddie Mullins, the former governor of Mountjoy Prison, was handed into court on behalf of Mr Breen, along with a letter of apology from the accused and a CV outlining his army service.
Mr Murray made an application to Judge Patrick Quinn to “take a leap of faith on Breen” and waive the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence under Section 15A.
Section 15A applies where the value of the drugs exceeds €13,000 and carries a presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, unless the court finds exceptional and specific circumstances.
Judge Quinn agreed with senior counsel and handed down a sentence of four years, fully suspended for a period of four years.
He noted that “he was taking a huge risk due to the substantial haul of drugs”, before crediting gardaí for intercepting the drugs.
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