Man with 121 previous convictions is jailed for drug possession by Kilkenny Court

A prison sentence has been handed down to a man convicted of being in illegal possession of drugs, at Kilkenny District Court.
Kieran Jones, 27 Hebron Park, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to the possession charge and a public order charge.

The court heard evidence that on July 19, 2023, at 6.30pm, gardaí attended at Pococke Lower where Mr Jones was ‘causing a nuisance.’
He was arrested under the Public Order Act. A fixed charge penalty was not paid.

Mr Jones was searched after his arrest and found in possession of ‘one deal of heroin.’

The defendant had 121 previous convictions, the court was told, a ‘large amount’ of which were for simple possession.
Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had handed over the drugs before he was searched. It had a nominal value, €20 or less, he said.

Acknowledging his client has a history of offending, Mr Hogan said there are ‘green shoots of recovery’.
Mr Jones is now engaging with support services and on a methadone programme.
He asked the court to give his client credit for his guilty plea and asked he be allowed to continue his recovery in the community.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said she had considered a Community Service Order but concluded it was not suitable in this case.
On the possession charge Mr Jones was convicted and a one-month prison sentence handed down.
The public order offence was taken into consideration. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.