Offaly gardai had to stop man from swallowing heroin during search

A MAN tried to swallow heroin when gardai tried to search him in Tullamore, the local District Court was told.

Two fines of €100 each were imposed on Martin Killian (36), Arch House B&B, Sean Costello Street, Athlone and formerly of Canal Line, Puttaghaun, Tullamore.

The District Court heard that two gardai saw Mr Killian acting suspiciously with something in his hand at Cormac Street, Tullamore on August 6 last.

When the accused was told he was going to be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act he immediately put an item into his mouth and had to be restrained from swallowing it.

Mr Killian then spat out a wrap of what gardai believed to be heroin and was then brought to Tullamore Garda Station and charged.

His solicitor, Patrick Martin entered guilty pleas to possession of diamorphine and the unlawful obstruction of a gardai.

Mr Killian was also accused of committing an offence on November 28, 2023 at Spar, Arden Road where he stole four packets of Red Bull valued at €26.

He had been recorded on CCTV. The court heard he had already admitted and paid compensation for that theft.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court the man had 43 previous convictions and one of those was under the Misuse of Drugs Act, with another 28 road traffic offences, two assaults, plus seven public order offences and one for theft.

In May 2023 he was convicted of causing criminal damage and was sentenced to a one-month suspended sentence.

Mr Martin said Mr Killian, a single man, had been engaging with a methadone programme and a Stepping Out programme [the latter helps offenders get training and return to the workforce] and was currently living in sheltered accommodation after being homeless.

The solicitor added that the accused had a “chequered history” when he was younger but was now doing quite well.

Judge Valerie Corcoran said she sympathised. “Drug addiction is an ongoing lifelong difficulty,” she said.

She imposed the fines for the drug offences and gave the man nine months to pay them. She also remanded Mr Killian on bail to appear in court again on October 22 next for Judge Andrew Cody to finalise a sentence for the theft offence.

Legal aid was granted to the accused.