A LETTERKENNY man jailed for 31/2 years in February 1995 on a drugs offence has been released under probation supervision. He is to appear for a review of his sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on May 1st, 1997.
Supt John Fitzgerald said he would have no objection to Cyril McAuley being released on condition that he remain under strict supervision. He said McAuley came from a good background and it was surprising to find him involved in drug dealing.
Judge Cyril Kelly agreed with Supt Fitzgerald that, while the amount of cannabis involved was small in big city terms, it could be devastating to a smaller rural community. "Donegal is too beautiful a county to allow it be destroyed by this type of thing," the judge said.
He noted the contents of a probation report were "extremely favourable" to McAuley and that Judge Michael Moriarty had indicated when he sentenced the defendant that he intended to take a lenient view in such a situation. Judge Moriarty had relisted the case for review at this time.
McAuley (31), a carpenter, of Kilmacrennan Road, was arrested following a Garda surveillance operation which resulted from anonymous telephone calls alleging he was selling drugs in a local bar.
He pleaded guilty to possession for supply of about £5,000 worth of cannabis on December 9th, 1994. McAuley had no previous convictions.