A MAN who stored a “significant” amount of cocaine for a local drug gang in order to pay off gambling debts was given a fully suspended three-year prison sentence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Christopher Wallace (55), of 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 Mr Wallace had the drugs at his home and obtained a search warrant to search the property.
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 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 from whom he had taken 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.”
Judge Daly noted that Wallace pleaded guilty to possessing for sale or supply drugs worth more than €13,000, which, contrary to section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, unless there are exceptional and specific mitigatory circumstances involved.
The judge said he was satisfied that the appropriate headline sentence 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 investigation, the judge reduced the sentence to three years, which he fully suspended.
Gardaí agreed with the judge that Wallace was likely compromised due to having a gambling addiction, that he had lost his job of 17 years, and that he was at low risk of re-offending.
The court heard that a probation report was positive and that Wallace had great potential for rehabilitation.
– Court Reporting Scheme