Latest news with #Newsin90Seconds
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man who described himself as Belfast city's ‘number one coke vendor' spared jail again
Judge Sandra Crawford told Kieran Johnston that she was deferring sentencing until December 19 this year to allow him to continue his involvement in training courses and drug addiction intervention programmes. A south Belfast man who described himself as the city's 'No 1 Coke Vendor' has been spared prison for a second time. Judge Sandra Crawford told Kieran Johnston that she was deferring sentencing until December 19 this year to allow him to continue his involvement in training courses and drug addiction intervention programmes. In April this year, the judge postponed sentencing until today to see what progress the 21-year-old has made with his drug addiction issues. Johnston, of Hatfield Street off the Ormeau Road, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. He further admitted offering to supply both cocaine and cannabis and possessing criminal property totalling £9,867. Belfast Crown Court heard that on June 23, 2023, police carried out a search of Johnston's home and found 30g of cocaine in self-sealed bags along with a bag containing 43 ecstasy tablets. A bag containing 15g of benzocaine, a mixing agent used to adulterate cocaine, was also seized. The search also netted drug-related paraphernalia including weighing scales, a grinder, £7,155 in cash was seized along with luxury items of watches, trainers and clothing valued at around £2,700. 'Police seized the defendant's mobile phone and found 25 WhatsApp messages of him offering to sell cocaine and cannabis under the banner headline of 'No 1 Coke Vendor Belfast',' Mr McNeill said. 'The drugs, money and high-value goods were stored in Johnston's house and he was running his criminal operation from his bedroom, supplying street-level deals of drugs.' The court was told that the prosecution accepted that because of his young age, Johnston was likely to have been 'acting on behalf of a wider organised crime group'. During police interviews, Johnston made the case that he had been 'coerced' into the offending after building up a personal drug debt of several thousand pounds. In a pre-sentence report, Johnston told a probation officer: 'I knew what I was doing was wrong.' Kieran Johnston (Credit: Alan Lewis) News in 90 Seconds - June 28th At the sentencing hearing today, Judge Crawford said Johnston is currently working at a part-time job. 'He has engaged positively with Belfast Works Connect and has successfully completed a course in construction skills,' she noted. 'He is embarking on further programmes with this organisation. He has sought a referral for drug intervention and has been referred to Inspire Addiction Services and this is much-needed work and his issues with drug taking are ongoing.' Judge Crawford said Johnston was on a waiting list for that work and the court was told he has his first appointment with Inspire Addiction Services next week. 'It is not without a certain degree of hesitation that I am persuaded that the appropriate course, rather than impose an immediate sentence of imprisonment, is to defer sentencing for six months,' she added. 'I consider that there is meaningful evidence before me to justify such a deferral.' As part of the deferral, Johnston must attend all appointments and engage fully in any drug relapse intervention programmes. He is required to engage with all training courses and opportunities deemed appropriate for him by Belfast Works Connect. The defendant was told he must return to court later this year and be able to show he has kept away from all trouble and further offending and warned not to consume any alcohol or drugs other than those prescribed by his medical advisers. Judge Crawford made it clear she would require an up-to-date pre-sentence report along with a drug test by December's hearing. She said if the defendant can prove that he has complied with all of the conditions of the deferral, she would look at a disposal other than immediate custody. Judge Crawford added: 'This is a matter that is in the defendant's hands. 'If he takes the opportunity that has been afforded to him he will be successful in avoiding a custodial sentence. 'If he doesn't, he will face prison.'
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Pedestrian (20s) killed after being struck by car in Ballymun
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the incident in the capital in the early hours of Saturday morning. Gardaí had to break the door in A man in his 20s has been killed following a fatal road traffic collision in north Dublin. The incident occured in the early hours on Saturday morning on Balbutcher Lane in Ballymun. Gardaí responded at 4.55am when alerted to a matter involving a car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and no other injuries have been reported at this time. Gardaí had to break the door in News in 90 Seconds - June 28th In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: 'The road is closed for technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions in place. 'Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. 'Any road users or pedestrians who were in the vicinity of Balbutcher Lane and Balcurris Park areas of Ballymun, between 4:00am and 5:00am, and have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí. 'Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station at (01) 6664400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.'
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Banned driver (27) who dragged garda along in stolen car while on bail is jailed
Dylan Hafford pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment and criminal damage A 27-year-old man who reversed a stolen car away from a garda who was attempting to arrest him, dragging the officer along, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment. Dylan Hafford, Francis Street, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment and criminal damage stemming from the incident. Two counts of dangerous driving were taken into consideration. Separately, he admitted a robbery with a false imprisonment charge taken into consideration, while an old case was back in front of Judge Dara Hayes because the defendant did not meet conditions of a suspended portion of a sentence. Gda John Walsh gave evidence that on August 23, 2024, Gardaí spotted Mr Hafford putting fuel in a Nissan March at Applegreen, Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda. They knew that he was disqualified from driving, while the car was flagged as stolen. Gardaí followed him to a carpark at Eurospar, Bredin Street. As on officer approached the defendant recognised him as a garda. He reversed, grabbing the guard's arm, effectively dragging him back for a short distance. Hafford crashed into an unmarked garda jeep in which another officer was sitting, deploying the airbags. The damage amounted to €9,392. CCTV footage of the incident was played in court. He continued to reverse at speed and exited the carpark. This car drove on the wrong side of the road and was weaving in and out of traffic, forcing other motorists to take evasive action. Gardaí lost sight of the car and later found it parked at the Boyne Valley Business Park. No serious injuries were caused. The accused was arrested on the following October 10 during an unrelated search. Dylan Hafford was on bail at the time, while the incident occurred during the currency of the suspended sentence. Gda Aoife Flood said that the defendant was the driver when two men went into Centra, Main Street, Dunleer, at 5.40am on April 7, 2022. One pointed a Stanley knife at an employee who said that he didn't know where the safe was. The intruder threatened to cut his face off before warning him to stay in the kitchen. The men left, grabbing €25-worth of Heineken cans, cigarettes and a charity collection box. Investigators were able to identify Mr Hafford as the driver from CCTV. The car was found in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda with a cash till in the rear. He was arrested on May 4, 2022, and charged on July 18, 2024. A delay in submission of a file to the DPP accounted for the more than two-year gap. The court also heard that he was released from a three-year, three-month sentence, the final 18 months suspended, on May 20, 2024. He stopped attending Probation Service appointments on August 22. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - June 28th Under cross-examination by barrister Stephen Faulkner, a probation officer said that Dylan Hafford contacted him the same day last August that he found a dead body in a field in Drogheda and attended an appointment the next day. He had helped gardaí in the subsequent investigation. Mr Faulkner submitted that the defendant's disengagement with the Probation Service began after discovering the body. There were 19 previous convictions. The defendant is a father of one and youngest of three children. His parents separated. He had no history of employment and had serious drugs and alcohol issues. He wrote a letter of apology in which he stated he had 'slipped through the cracks of society'. He had spent most of his life in custody. Judge Hayes said that the garda in the carpark could easily have been driven over. He could have had serious injuries if not worse. It was fortunate that didn't happen. This was an attack on Gardaí in the course of their duty and an attempt to flee. It was 'extremely dangerous' use of a stolen car while disqualified. The judge continued that Hafford acted as an accomplice in the Dunleer incident. A knife had been produced and a man was threatened that he would have his face cut. It was an extremely serious robbery. Concurrent jail terms of three years and 3 months were imposed on the endangerment and criminal damage charges, consecutive to two-and-a-half years for robbery. The reactivation of the 18-month suspended sentence was marked concurrent leaving a total of 5 years and nine months. Judge Hayes said that he would suspend the final 21 months for two years 'with some reluctance'. A sentence of four years was backdated to October 26 last. This report was updated at June 27, 16.05 upon completion of sentencing. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Garda's finger cut as man ‘lost the head' while being handcuffed, court hears
Judge John Brennan struck the case out, sparing him a criminal record after he made a €140 charity donation. A garda suffered a cut finger as he tried to handcuff a struggling man who had 'lost the head' when stopped for a search in Dublin city centre. Council worker Robert William Carey (20) thought he was being 'picked on' when he overreacted, displaying aggressive and 'reprehensible behaviour', a court heard. Judge John Brennan struck the case out, sparing him a criminal record after he made a €140 charity donation. Mr Carey, of Castlegrange Avenue, Castaheany, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty to garda obstruction. Dublin District Court heard gardaí thought Mr Carey was behaving suspiciously when they encountered him in Temple Bar on May 17 this year. Robert William Carey (20) News in 90 Seconds - June 28th When they asked to search him, he became aggressive and refused to give his name and address. He resisted arrest while handcuffs were being placed on him, resulting in a cut to the garda's finger. The officer did not require medical treatment. The accused was going through Temple Bar to buy food when gardaí decided to search him, his solicitor Evan Moore said. Nothing was found on Mr Carey but he was intoxicated and 'overreacted' to the search. Judge Brennan said while Mr Carey had thought he was being 'picked on' by the gardaí, this was not the way to react and it was 'kind of reprehensible behaviour'. Mr Carey displayed a 'level of aggression' and the garda suffered a minor injury. 'He's a young man who reacted badly and lost the head somewhat,' the judge said. 'He's learned his lesson.'
Sunday World
16 hours ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Haul of 7m cigarettes worth more than €6m seized at Dublin Port
The seizure was made after an unaccompanied container from Rotterdam was examined The cigarettes were in a container searched at Dublin Port (Alamy/PA) Almost 7.0 million cigarettes worth an estimated 6.25 million euro have been seized at Dublin Port. The seizure was made on Tuesday after an unaccompanied container from Rotterdam was examined. Revenue said the action was taken as a result of routine profiling and with the assistance of Revenue's mobile x-ray scanner and a detector dog, Milo. The cigarettes were in a container searched at Dublin Port (Alamy/PA) News in 90 Seconds - June 27th The cigarettes, branded 'Marlboro', have an estimated value of 6.25 million euro, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of 4.9 million euro, Revenue said. The smuggled cigarettes were seized under Section 141 Finance Act 2001. More to follow..
