Matthew Jenkinson is 27.[1] He works as an electrician.[2] He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at St Ignatius Road, Drumcondra on June 3, 2024.[2] Judge Martin Nolan dealt with his case.[2] He was jailed for three years.[1] His early guilty plea allowed the court to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.[2]
Garda Philip Lavery said a house on St Ignatius Road was searched because of concerns cannabis was being sold from the premises.[2] CCTV footage showed a white Ford Focus arriving at the property earlier that day.[2] The footage showed Jenkinson exiting the vehicle carrying the large black suitcase into the property.[2] The co-accused took ownership of the suitcase.[2] No drugs or paraphernalia were found when Jenkinson’s home at Abbeyvale Green, Swords Manor, Swords was searched.[2] He has no relevant previous convictions.[2]
He said Jenkinson was more culpable than the co-accused.[2] He said Jenkinson sought out the property and brought the cannabis there for the co-accused to store.[2] Jenkinson said a notional drug debt of around €10,000 was a factor in his offending.[2] Judge Nolan said Jenkinson played his part holding or carrying drugs for reward or alleviation of debt.[2] The judge described him as coerced into carrying drugs but the author of his own misfortune.[2] He developed addiction issues at a young age and has since completed a drug rehabilitation programme.[2] His urine analysis is clean of all substances.[2] He was assessed at low risk of reoffending.[2] He has an offer of work open to him upon release from custody.[2]