Agony ‘n’ ecstasy | 

No conviction for man caught dealing to undercover cops to feed his habit

Mark Ingram (49) sold ecstasy to undercover gardaí on two occasions, and he was found with more drugs when his home was searched.

Eimear Cotter

Today at 07:06

A professional man who sold drugs to undercover gardaí after he “stumbled into addiction” has avoided a conviction after he completed the restorative justice programme.

Mark Ingram (49) sold ecstasy to undercover gardaí on two occasions, and he was found with more drugs when his home was searched.

Judge David McHugh said Ingram had successfully completed the restorative justice programme and he struck out the charges, leaving him without a conviction.

The defendant, of Esker Drive in Lucan, had admitted possession of cannabis and MDMA, and also admitted a supply charge.

Detective Sergeant Selina Proudfoot previously told Blanchardstown District Court Ingram sold GBL, or liquid ecstasy, valued at €50, to an undercover garda on May 13, 2022. He then sold MDMA tablets, worth €200, to an undercover garda on May 19, 2022.

Sgt Proudfoot said gardaí obtained a warrant and searched the defendant’s home on May 27, 2022. During the search, cannabis, worth €374, liquid ecstasy, worth €75, and MDMA, with a street value of €620, were seized, along with drug paraphernalia and a mobile phone.

In cross-examination, Sgt Proudfoot accepted Ingram was a street dealer. She said she did not believe he was making money from the sale of the drugs, but was selling to feed his own habit.

The court heard Ingram had no previous convictions.

Ingram’s lawyer said his client, a father of two, had “stumbled into addiction”, and it had a lot of consequences for him, both personally and professionally. He had attended Coolmine treatment centre and was now clean of all drugs.