A MAN who swallowed suspected drugs while gardaí were carrying out a search on his person has been fined.
Letterkenny District Court this week heard how gardaí were on patrol on March 3, 2024 when they observed two males acting suspiciously at Station House Hotel car park in Letterkenny.
Gardaí carried out a search on Paul Killen (46) of 31A Bucks Head Road, Downpatrick.
He was subsequently charged with impeding/obstructing a member of An Garda Siochána by swallowing suspected controlled drugs whilst gardaí carried out a search of his person under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Killen was also charged that he did fraudulently alter a registration mark on a car on the same date.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that as gardaí went to conduct a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Killen “reached into his pocket and stuffed something in his mouth frustrating the procedure”.
Sergeant Collins said fiollowing a search of the vehicle, gardaí discovered it had false registration plates. Killen had no previous convictions, the court was told.
Solicitor for the defendant, Mr Patsy Gallagher told the court he is a young man who had the drugs in his possession for his own recreation.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said Killen was “very lucky not to have suffered adverse affects after swallowing four or five tablets”.
The court was told €150 had previously been lodged in relation to bail.
On the offence of impede/obstruct a member of An Garda Siochána by swallowing suspected controlled drugs whilst carrying out a search of your person under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Killen was fined €150, of which the previously lodged bail money was used.
Killen was also fined €150 for the charge of fraudulently altering a registration mark on a car.
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