Judge offers no‑conviction deal to 19‑year‑old caught with €20 of cocaine

A District Court judge in Letterkenny has warned a 19‑year‑old that “behind every recreational user, there is a whole system” after the young man was caught possessing €20 worth of cocaine.

The offence, alleged to have occurred on 20 June 2026 on Upper Main Street, Letterkenny, breaches section 3 and section 27(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended by the 1984 Act. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins testified that Gardai observed the defendant acting suspiciously, searched his pocket and found a white powder later identified as cocaine.

Judge Emile Daly told the court that, because the defendant is young, a conviction could affect future visa applications. He offered to forgo a conviction if the young man made a €250 donation to St Vincent de Paul, which the defendant subsequently provided a receipt for.

Judge Daly described the behaviour as “extremely unwise” and said the leniency was a one‑off measure, emphasizing that such conduct “sanctions the behaviour of others to supply your so‑called recreational use.”

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Joaquin Carfagna / Pexels.