A YOUNG Letterkenny man has been told to change his life around as he was jailed for robbery and drug dealing.
David Orr (22) of Ballymacool Wood is charged with robbery at a Letterkenny take-away restaurant and two counts of possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, with the intention to supply.
He appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court on Tuesday for his sentencing hearing.
The court heard that on November 4, 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty in court to supplying cocaine, on October 18, 2021, to an undercover garda.
Gardaí were carrying out an operation to tackle drug-dealing and money laundering locally and nationally, and contacted a phone number believed to belong to a drug-dealer in Letterkenny.
An undercover garda spoke to the person on the phone who told them they could meet with “a young lad” at Larkin’s Lane, Letterkenny.
They later received a call from the number and were told to walk to Larkin’s Lane, “that young lad’s waiting for you”.
The undercover garda met with a male who seemed to be in their late teens.
The person handed the garda a bag containing a white substance believed to be a controlled drug. The undercover garda gave the teenager €100.
The substance was then tested and confirmed to be cocaine.
On a separate occasion, on December 12, 2021, a garda contacted the same number.
They were asked: “What are you after?”
“Just a gram,” the garda replied.
They were again given the same location of Larkin’s Lane to meet with “a young lad”, who would be wearing a red jacket. Gardaí knew this person to be Orr.
Again the garda bought a substance off the person, for €100, which was later confirmed to be cocaine.
Orr was subsequently arrested and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station on December 6, 2022.
The court also heard of a separate incident that occurred on February 18, 2025, in which he robbed a business, namely Chicking take-away, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, of €300 cash.
The prosecution barrister, Fiona Crawford BL, told the court that a witness said Orr was vaping and had a bottle of vodka with him.
The court was shown CCCTV footage of the incident, in which the accused approached the counter and reached over it, in an attempt to take money from the register when a female member of staff had opened it to take payment from another customer.
The member of staff then closed the register.
Orr was seen coming behind the counter and demanded that the woman open the register again and made threats to stab her with the bottle.
The defendant could then be seen opening the register and taking cash from it before running out of the premises.
Ms Crawford added that gardaí identified Orr as the defendant on the CCTV.
Orr was again arrested on February 20, 2025.
When gardaí interviewed Orr at Letterkenny Garda Station, he said it was not him and said the CCTV looked to be photoshopped.
Orr has been in custody in Castlerea since his arrest.
Ms Crawford informed the court that Orr has gathered 19 convictions since turning 18, including for a number of thefts, assault, and five counts of criminal damage.
She said the incident at the take-away occurred whilst Orr was on bail.
Defence barrister, Ivan Toner BL, said in regards to the drug-dealing offence, Orr was “at the bottom of the food chain”.
“He was doing a delivery for someone further up the chain.”
Mr Toner also spoke of Orr’s background, saying that he lost his father at the age of three and now had “various addictions”, having started taking drugs at the age of 12.
He said his client pleaded at the first opportunity.
“He wishes to wholeheartedly apologise to the individuals in the restaurant,” Mr Toner said, adding that Orr acknowledges that he put the individuals in fear.
He spoke of his client’s “problematic educational history”, saying he had behavioural issues and left school before doing his leaving certificate.
“He hasn’t been able to establish a consistent path to education or employment,” Mr Toner said.
The court heard that the defendant has been deemed suitable for community service.
The court was told Orr is doing well in prison and is working as a landing cleaner, and Mr Toner asked the judge to consider this and the fact that he has been in custody since 2025.
Passing judgement, Judge John Aylmer said that considering his age at the time of the drug-dealing incidents, the accused was “acting as what is colloquially known as a mule”.
However, he added: “It seems to be something you were doing regularly.”
“You were abusing alcohol and drugs and had been doing so since you were 12, apparently.”
Judge Aylmer acknowledged the loss of Orr’s father and his ADHD diagnosis and his claims to be suffering from bipolar disorder, but noted there has not yet been an official diagnosis.
Referring to the robbery Judge Aylmer said: “You used a bottle to threaten staff.
“There is no doubt it must have been extremely traumatic.”
Judge Aylmer reminded the defendant of his 19 previous convictions during his adult life.
“They must be regarded as providing substantial aggravation,” he said.
“You really need to change your life around.”
He sentenced Orr to three years and seven months in prison, with 12 months suspended, back-dated to when he first went into custody.
During his suspended sentence, he is to engage with the probation services and addiction services.
The defendant is to be of good behaviour and abstain from alcohol and drugs.
“I hope not to see you again in this court room,” Judge Aylmer said.
