Garda resigns after guilty plea to drug possession charge

Updated / Wednesday, 5 Feb 2025 15:51

A garda in Co Kerry has pleaded guilty to a charge of possession a controlled drug at a hotel room in Tralee in 2021.

Niall O’Connor, 42, who was based in Tralee, had been charged that on 27 February 2021, he had in his possession a controlled drug, namely GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) at a hotel room in the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He was also charged with possession of the same drug for supply, contrary to Section 15 of the act.

The matter was investigated by Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Tralee District Court was told O’Connor, who remained suspended from duty since the date of an alleged drugs offence almost four years ago, tendered his resignation this morning.

The accused was served with a summons in October 2024 and the matter returned before the court on 3 December.

The DPP had directed summary disposal, meaning the case was to be heard in District Court.

Two weeks ago an application by O’Connor’s solicitor Pádraig O’Connell to have the case dismissed on the grounds of delay was refused.

The matter had been adjourned to today for disclosure.

The court heard that the section 15 sale and supply charge was being withdrawn by the State and a guilty plea to that of simple possession was entered.

State solicitor Diane Reidy confirmed that O’Connor had a clean record with no previous conviction.

His solicitor said his client had made admissions to the possession of drugs and had co-operated fully.

Mr O’Connell said there is a certain odium attached to someone in O’Connor’s profession charged the offence, and he had been exemplary in his post.

He asked Judge Waters to give him one opportunity, as he would anyone else, to make a voluntary contribution and keep his record clean.

Mr O’Connell said it had been a dreadful ordeal for his client, and asked the court to give him a glimmer of light.

Judge Waters said it had been the practice of the court for some time, on first conviction for possession of drugs with no previous, to give defendants an opportunity to keep their record clean.

Judge Waters said, on the one hand, it is an aggravating factor that he was a serving garda, but the corollary of that was that the case had a more serious effect on him due to his position

He said he is going to give O’Connor the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution of €500 to The Grove addiction treatment centre.

If the receipt of that payment is handed into court on 26 March, the matter will be struck out.

O’Connor’s solicitor told the court the payment would be made.