A qualified fitness instructor who previously escaped prison after paying €40,000 in compensation to a victim who had his ear bitten has escaped prison again, this time on drug dealing charges.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Daniel O’Connell, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs worth €33,150 with intent to supply at his home in Ballybrack, Clonrala, south-east Clare, on July 17, 2020. Ta.
Mr O’Connell was given a three-year suspended prison sentence at Limerick Circuit Court in 2015 for assaulting Donal Ryan in a nightclub at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel in 2011, leaving him with no time in prison. I was spared.
During the assault, Mr O’Connell bit off a “significant portion” of Ryan’s ear, and medics were unable to reattach it.
Mr O’Connell, from Corbally, Co Limerick, was given a three-year suspended sentence and 10 years in prison after agreeing to pay €40,000 in installments.
Now, in relation to drug offences, Detective Garda Ciaran Lynch of Henry Street Garda Station told Ennis Circuit Court that the drugs seized, mainly ketamine and MDMA, had an estimated street value of €33,150. .
Det Garda Lynch said ketamine and MDMA were recovered from a laundry basket at the home during a late night search.
During sentencing, Judge Francis Comerford said the exceptional circumstances in this case combined to enable him to sentence Mr O’Connell to a 22-month suspended prison sentence, allowing him to continue his path to rehabilitation and rehabilitation. He said that it is desirable. A productive member of society.
Mr Justice Comerford said this was the second time Mr O’Connell had appeared in the Circuit Court facing very serious charges.
In an interview with gardaí in July 2020, Mr O’Connell said he sold drugs to friends but made no profit and did so to fund his cocaine and cannabis addiction.
Ms O’Connell was not working at the time and was receiving social welfare payments of €203 a week.
State Solicitor Lorcan Connolly BL (instructed by State Solicitor Aisling Casey) said Mr O’Connell had told gardaí that he was putting money into social services.
At the time, Mr O’Connell was driving a 2007-registered Ford Focus, but there was “no sign that he was leading a lavish lifestyle”.
In evidence, Det Garda Lynch said Mr O’Connell had been “employed and has not been on our radar” since his arrest in July 2020.
Det Garda Lynch said Mr O’Connell cooperated with gardai and made a full confession.
Defense barrister Mark Nicholas SC (instructed by barrister Dara Hassett) said Mr O’Connell “has done his best to deal with his addiction and has provided clear urine to his GP over a period of time”. .
Mr Nicholas said Ms O’Connell’s addiction was the driving force behind the crime.
Mr Nicholas said Mr O’Connell worked as a personal trainer. Mr O’Connell trained to become a fitness instructor at LIT.
Mr Nicholas said Mr O’Connell had changed and was now working full time at Shannon and his employer had further extended his employment until December of this year.
Nicholas said: “He went from being someone who was sitting on the couch, depressed and taking drugs, to being off drugs, turning his back on drugs and becoming a participating member of society. It’s a positive story. Things like this. It’s been four years since that happened.”