A 23-year-old Derry man who committed a number of drugs offences three years ago, avoided jail because he demonstrated to the court that he had ‘turned his life around’.
Edward Maguire of Moat Street admitted a series of drug offences that occurred between September 2014 and May 2015.
The court heard that a police search of Maguire's home on May 29, 2015, turned up a range of drugs; 7.41g of MDMA more commonly known as Ecstasy, 6.71g of cocaine and 1.52g of ketamine.
A further five Ecstasy tablets and a phone were seized. Police also found £3,340 cash underneath a blanket. The phone was examined and found to contain drug-related messages.
Crown Court Judge Philip Babington said that it was ‘clear that he was someone who is supplying his friends’ but that it was a ‘small number of friends’ and he was ‘less than a street dealer, insofar as he doesn’t sell to the public, as such’. Maguire made a full admission and received maximum credit in court for doing so.
He has one previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years in May 2014.
In his pre-sentence report, Maguire said, ‘I made the biggest mistake of my life’ and with regard to the dangers of drug-dealing, he said, ‘I could’ve killed someone. There are reasons but no excuses for what I’ve done’.
Judge Babington said that Maguire seemed genuinely remorseful and did not try to minimise his actions. The risk of reoffending was ranked as medium, however, the report said that Maguire had ‘turned his life around’ and was working in Switzerland.
Judge Babington said he had ‘learned the error of his ways whilst understanding the evils of drugs’. Maguire said that the police raid had been ‘a wake-up call’.
Judge Babington said that there had been a considerable delay of three years in dealing with the case and that Maguire had ‘used this time productively’ by becoming a qualified electrician. He added that Maguire now ‘realises drug use and distribution is potentially fatal’.
Maguire was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for three years.
Judge Babington said he gave a suspended sentence after taking into account the fact that Maguire had ‘turned his life around’ and the delay of three years in the case being dealt with.
He added: “This is very serious offending and a suspended sentence in a case such as this is exceptional so there should be a supplementary penalty of a punitive nature.”
Maguire was fined £1,500 and ordered to split the cash seized at his home between charities; £2,000 to HURT, £670 to North West Counselling and £670 to the Men’s Action Network.
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