Latest news with #MisuseofDrugsAct
Sunday World
12 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man tells court he bought heroin in bulk to avoid having to steal to feed his habit
'The only way I could sustain the habit without going out stealing was to buy in bulk - it's cheaper if you can do that' A man addicted to heroin caught with nearly €1,000 worth of the drug has avoided jail after telling a judge he bought in bulk to avoid committing theft to feed his addiction. "Drugs ruined my life," the defendant, Norman Purfield (45), told Tallaght District Court. Purfield, of The Grange, Dún Laoghaire, had initially faced a charge of possession of heroin for sale or supply. However, Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the charge at Tallaght District Court after ruling it had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Purfield had pleaded guilty instead to simple possession under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard that on May 1, 2022, Mr Purfield was the front-seat passenger in a car stopped by Garda Jack Lynch on Old Bawn Road, Tallaght. The court heard that both occupants appeared nervous and two small bags of suspected heroin were seen being discarded beside the vehicle. Purfield initially refused to accompany gardaí and was arrested under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act before being brought to Tallaght Garda Station. He was found with 6.8 grams of heroin, worth an estimated €952. File image. News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd When questioned, he told gardaí the drugs were for personal use and said he had been using heavily at the time. 'I bought it in bigger packets,' he told the court. 'The only way I could sustain the habit without going out stealing was to buy in bulk - it's cheaper if you can do that.' He claimed he had paid just €300 for the heroin, despite its estimated street value of almost €1,000, and said the money came from his social welfare payments. Purfield added: 'Drugs ruined my life. I'm fighting every day. I'm on 20mls of methadone now and hoping to come off it. I could go cold turkey if I got the chance to go to treatment.' Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor said his client had a long-standing heroin addiction but was now trying to turn his life around. Judge McNamara noted that while gardaí recovered a significant quantity of heroin, there were no weighing scales, no drug paraphernalia, and no observations of Mr Purfield supplying drugs. Gardaí had also said the defendant had been fully co-operative and now accepted that the drugs were likely for personal use. 'That's still quite a lot,' the judge remarked, before convicting him of simple possession. 'But I accept your explanation and your willingness to engage with treatment.' She imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition that Purfield attend a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. The court heard that Purfield has 42 previous convictions, including three for drug-related offences. 'You'll have to sign the bond and stay out of trouble,' Judge McNamara warned. 'If you don't attend, the gardaí can bring you back in and the sentence will be imposed.' Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Major drug raid as cops swoop on Dublin business & seize cannabis herb worth €2m as two arrested in separate search
A RAID on a business premises in Dublin has resulted in the seizure of €2 million worth of cannabis herb. The search was carried out on Saturday at a business in Ballyfermot. The seized drugs will be analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels – international, national, and local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale, and supply of controlled drugs. Read more in News A spokesperson said: "As part of Operation Tara, Gardaí have seized €2m of suspected cannabis herb during the course of a search of a business premises in the Ballyfermot, "The searches were carried out by Gardaí from Ballyfermot Garda Station, Clondalkin Community Engagement Area, and Detective Gardaí from Serious Crime South. "The "Investigations are ongoing." Most read in The Irish Sun Separately, two people have been arrested in Detectives from the The search was conducted at a property in the Gorestown Road area of Dungannon under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Friday, June 20 shortly after 5.20pm. As part of the ongoing investigation two men, aged 39 and 24 years old, were arrested on suspicion of a number of drug-related offences. Both men are currently in police custody at this time. Detective Inspector Stickland said: 'The drugs, as well as a sum of money and drugs paraphernalia, have been taken away for further forensic examinations. 'Our officers will continue to protect communities from the harm of illegal drugs. "As a result of this excellent police work, a large quantity of suspected dangerous controlled drugs are now safely off our streets. 'Drugs have no place in our community and I am making a direct appeal to anyone with information about the illicit supply, possession or misuse of drugs to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via 1 The search was carried out on Saturday at a business in Ballyfermot. Credit: Alamy
Belfast Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
PSNI seizes £420k of suspected Class A drugs in raid on property
The raid was carried out on Friday evening (June 20), at a property on Gorestown Road in the Co Tyrone town, as part of an investigation by the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Officers also recovered a sum of cash and drug paraphernalia, all of which have been taken for forensic examination. Two men, aged 39 and 24, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of multiple drug-related offences. They remain in police custody. Detective Inspector Stickland said the seizure was a significant step in tackling the harm caused by illegal drugs: 'As a result of this excellent police work, a large quantity of suspected dangerous controlled drugs are now safely off our streets.' Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards 2025: A look behind the scenes He added that police efforts to disrupt the supply and misuse of illegal substances would continue, and urged anyone with relevant information to contact the PSNI via 101, report online at or reach out to Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Drugs ruined my life' – Man tells court he bought heroin in bulk to avoid having to steal to feed his habit
"Drugs ruined my life," the defendant, Norman Purfield (45), told Tallaght District Court. Purfield, of The Grange, Dún Laoghaire, had initially faced a charge of possession of heroin for sale or supply. However, Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the charge at Tallaght District Court after ruling it had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Purfield had pleaded guilty instead to simple possession under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard that on May 1, 2022, Mr Purfield was the front-seat passenger in a car stopped by Garda Jack Lynch on Old Bawn Road, Tallaght. The court heard that both occupants appeared nervous and two small bags of suspected heroin were seen being discarded beside the vehicle. Purfield initially refused to accompany gardaí and was arrested under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act before being brought to Tallaght Garda Station. He was found with 6.8 grams of heroin, worth an estimated €952. When questioned, he told gardaí the drugs were for personal use and said he had been using heavily at the time. 'I bought it in bigger packets,' he told the court. 'The only way I could sustain the habit without going out stealing was to buy in bulk - it's cheaper if you can do that.' He claimed he had paid just €300 for the heroin, despite its estimated street value of almost €1,000, and said the money came from his social welfare payments. Purfield added: 'Drugs ruined my life. I'm fighting every day. I'm on 20mls of methadone now and hoping to come off it. I could go cold turkey if I got the chance to go to treatment.' ADVERTISEMENT Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor said his client had a long-standing heroin addiction but was now trying to turn his life around. Judge McNamara noted that while gardaí recovered a significant quantity of heroin, there were no weighing scales, no drug paraphernalia, and no observations of Mr Purfield supplying drugs. Gardaí had also said the defendant had been fully co-operative and now accepted that the drugs were likely for personal use. 'That's still quite a lot,' the judge remarked, before convicting him of simple possession. 'But I accept your explanation and your willingness to engage with treatment.' She imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition that Purfield attend a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. The court heard that Purfield has 42 previous convictions, including three for drug-related offences. 'You'll have to sign the bond and stay out of trouble,' Judge McNamara warned. 'If you don't attend, the gardaí can bring you back in and the sentence will be imposed.' Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
England women's star cleared of drugs charge ahead of Euro 2025 - 'I'm relieved'
England and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating has seen charges of drug possession dropped by Greater Manchester Police. Charges of drug possession against England goalkeeper Khiara Keating have been dropped by Greater Manchester Police. The Manchester City keeper, 20, was charged last June along with her mother, Nicola Keating, 48, with possession of cannisters of the Class C drug nitrous oxide. Both pleaded not guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court and were granted unconditional bail. The Crown Prosecution Service duly discontinued the case, Greater Manchester Police confirmed. Both women had been charged with possession of a Class C drug on 18 June last year following a police investigation. The pair appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court in July, where they denied the offence and were granted unconditional bail. At a second hearing in September, they reaffirmed their pleas, and a trial was scheduled for November 2025 but the case has now been dismissed. Keating, who is part of England's European Championship squad, said in a statement to the BBC: 'I'm relieved the charges have been dropped — as I've always said, I did nothing wrong. 'It's been a difficult time, but I've always known the truth. Now I'm just looking forward to focusing fully on the Euros and spending time with my family.' Nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in November 2023. Possession with the intention of wrongfully inhaling it for a psychoactive effect became an offence. The gas can still be used for legitimate reasons, such as in catering or pain relief during labour. Keating will travel to the Euros as a back-up to England's new first-choice keeper Hannah Hampton. Keating has yet to make her senior England debut but was included in Sarina Wiegman's 23-player squad despite her lack of experience. She played just 12 times for City in last season's Women's Super League, conceding 18 goals and keeping four clean sheets. The previous year she became the youngest player to win the Women's Super League Golden Glove award, keeping nine clean sheets in 22 league appearances. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
