Athy pair spend two nights in custody

Two young Athy men spent two nights in custody last week after they pleaded guilty to drugs charges at Athy District Court last Tuesday, January 8.

Brian Lalor, 20 whose address is listed as 18 Sunnyside Lawns, Dunbrinn, Athy and Colm Ward, 22, whose address is listed as 18 Fortbarrington Drive, Athy faced two related drugs charges.

On January 21, 2012 Gardai searched the home of Mr. Lalor under warrant and found quantities of herbal cannabis. They search Mr. Ward’s home a month later on February 21, 2012 and found the same.

The pair were charged with unlawful possession of the drugs and unlawful possession of the drugs for sale or supply.

In the case of Mr. Lalor, €140 worth of the drug was found and in the case of Mr. Ward, it was €830 worth.

Mr. Lalor has previous convictions for road traffic offences. Mr. Ward has no previous convictions.

Representing them, Thomas Quinn said that the pair were not selling the drugs for profit – they were merely supplying them to each other.

Judge Desmond Zaidan inquired if the men had been of assistance to Gardai. “The reality is this, these two guys are small fry.

“There are bigger guys out there.”

Mr. Quinn explained that the two men had made efforts to mend their ways since they were arrested.

References were handed in which indicated that the two young men had very bright futures ahead of them, and had done extremely well at school.

Mr. Ward was captain of the senior rugby captain at his school and was a very good student. “You both have natural ability,” the Judge said,

And he noted that the two men would have to realise that they “played with fire and got burned”.

He remanded the two men in custody until Thursday morning, January 10.

At Naas District Court that day he released them from custody before instructing them to reappear on March 12 next and to have €1,500 a piece.