Drug dealer turned chef spared jail after cocaine seized in home

Sunday World

09-06-2025

Charlie Maher was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around
A 25-year-old drug dealer who became a chef has received a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence after Gardaí found almost €6,000-worth of drugs in his home.
Charlie Maher, Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around.
The defendant's house was searched on May 1, 2020, and in a bedroom officers located cocaine valued €5,747 and cannabis worth €155 as well as €445 cash and a phone with messages indicating drug dealing.
It was noted during a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court that the defendant had been given a two-year suspended term for a similar Section 15 drugs offence which occurred on March 8, 2021, but that there had been no trouble since.
Mr. Maher was assessed by the Probation Service as at low risk of reoffending.
He had submitted 10 clear urinalysis results and was drug-free.
He was working as a chef in a restaurant in Duleek having worked his way up from a kitchen porter and lived with his partner and her two children.
The defendant had moved away from a former negative peer group, and engaged well with the Probation Service.
Judge Hayes noted that he had not come to adverse garda attention for over four years and had turned his life around.
As serious as this case was it was not one which required immediate imprisonment.
A three-and-a-half year sentence was suspended for three-and-a-half years.
Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and forfeiture of the cash.
Funded by Courts Reporting Scheme.