???

layke

I have a friend who is currently doing time for transporting some narcotics. At the time he needed the money and someone offered him the job of driver. Unfortunatly he was caught and there has been an ongoing trial for the last year and a half. The judge that he got let him go on restrictive bail, although he was allowed to leave Ireland on holidays.

This is one of the soundest people I have ever met, he is a close personal friend of mine. No danger to anyone else at all, just did something stupid in his youth and is being put away for it. ATM he is still awaiting sentencing but because he got a new judge this time he was remanded in custody for 1 month to be sentenced on his birthday.

He is currently looking at anything up to 7 years (max) although it will probably be more like 2-3.

After he was caught he has NEVER gone near that crowd again.

I'd like to see some opions on what should be done here? Just interested in how people react to stories outside the papers.

Hobbes

Depends. You make it sound like he knew what he was doing. That's what makes the difference between 7 years and suspended sentance.

Saruman

Sorry to sound like this layke but he knew the consequences and is now going to pay for them. Forget the fact he is sound and might not do it again.. it does not excuse the fact someone who might have got those drugs could have died from an overdose or they would be sold to school kids...

Sorry but i have no time for drug dealers of any kind... even those who "just needed the cash!"

DeVore

Drugs... exactly what are we talking here? heroin? Coke? E? Bails of Hashish?

Yes it matters.

DeV.

The Corinthian

I would have to agree with Saruman here. Your friend knew what he was doing and he knew it was illegal. Also, from what you say, he’s been involved to one degree or other in the drug scene, and so I suspect it’s more than likely that he had transgressed the law in this area before without retribution.

But finally, whether he likes it or not, he’s a grown up and arguing “I promise I won’t do it again” won’t work anymore (except for in relationships). I’m afraid his best option is to be stoic about the matter with and face it with some semblance of dignity that he had failed to demonstrate when he chose to go for the easy money.

Originally posted by DeVore
Drugs... exactly what are we talking here? heroin? Coke? E? Bails of Hashish?

Yes it matters.

No, not really. If it was bails of hashish, it might be the nice, no-one-gets-hurt, drug that conjures up memories of one’s college days, but let’s call a spade a spade - regardless of the drug, the importers (someone offered him the job of driver, remember) are still most probably going to be a bunch of gangsters who would chop you up and feed you to a bunch of pigs if it was worth their while.

DeVore

If working for "bad people" is to be factored in then what about Shell employees....


If he drove Heroin its a lot worse then if he drove grass. What the people who paid him to do that job have done in the past or might do in the future is not his responsibility.

Yes it matters. It may not completely exonerate him if he only drove soft drugs but it matters in the sentencing.

DeV.

Clintons Cat

yeah that was my view too are we talking class A's?

Either way he would have known the risk before he took the job.

Tough Luck for him,not so bad for those up the chain whose main inconvienience will be finding a new "mule"...

...Now why do they call them that a wonder?

Zukustious

The vagueness astounds me.

First of all. What was he transporting. Secondly, how did you know he needed the money? Was he dying or something? I doubt anyone really needs the money that badly. He's joining a market that kills people. This makes him want to kill others to save his own money problems. Not his life. Even that would be unjustifiable.

layke

Depends. You make it sound like he knew what he was doing. That's what makes the difference between 7 years and suspended sentance.

I think he knew alright, he'd have to plead insanity otherwise

Yeh it was a b drug alright(hash), nothing like Coke or H. Don't get me wrong he knew what he was doing and he has also said on more the one occasion.

But finally, whether he likes it or not, he’s a grown up and arguing “I promise I won’t do it again” won’t work anymore (except for in relationships). I’m afraid his best option is to be stoic about the matter with and face it with some semblance of dignity that he had failed to demonstrate when he chose to go for the easy money.

Oh he has faced it, even is fully prepared to pay for his crime. He's been that way since the day he it happened.

I'd still like to stress the point that he HAS said sorry, fair nuff I did it, i'm ready to pay. He genuinly hasn't touched anything since.
My view is he was caught, he has bent over grabbed his ankles and reefed up the socks, should he put away for a few years?

Sorry about the vagueness, I was in work and the boss was hovering around my workstation.

The Corinthian

Originally posted by layke
I'd still like to stress the point that he HAS said sorry, fair nuff I did it, i'm ready to pay. He genuinly hasn't touched anything since.
My view is he was caught, he has bent over grabbed his ankles and reefed up the socks, should he put away for a few years?

That’s more a question about Society’s perception of right and wrong and retribution, and I don’t know if I presently want to get into a debate on the subject.

If it is a question as to whether your friend should specifically be put away for a few years, then it comes down to responsibility for one’s actions. Even if the law were unjust in this case, he was aware of the possible consequences - Had he been caught with the same hash in Thailand and sentenced to death, then while we may all have been shocked and even appalled by the severity of such a sentence, he would have been aware of these possible consequences prior to his committing the crime.

Regardless of our perception of the severity of the punishment, it must be remembered that he went in with both eyes open. As such, he would have known what he was risking, and expected no less.

Still, I do think it is, albeit belatedly, a noble attitude that he’s now taking in facing up to his actions. I wish him good luck.

Clintons Cat

Its tough on him,but hopefully it will be reflected in the sentence that the drug was class b,unless he gets a reactionary judge who chooses to "make an example" of him.In which case his sentence might well be cut on appeal.

Good luck to him,

Wolf

Id say it is very likly hell get 2 - 3 and be out on parroll in 18 months max.

But when it comes down to it at the end of the day there are things we all do in life and sometimes everyday. You weigh up the potential bad and the good and then you decide whether or not you are going to take a risk or not. If you take it fair enuf but u you allways have to be perpared for the worst that can happen.

Its how you handle your life after it all goes wrong that counts.

gl

Venom

I agree with The Corinthian and Saruman on this. He knew what he was doing, he knew the risks, he went along with it and got caught. to bad, very sad, never mind.

I sure alot of people on this website have been hardup or really stuck for cash at one point or another. Im sure the same people would all rather not have to work but get an easier option. I know Iv been in both of these situations. No one ever said life was easy or fair tho.

We could all take the easy way out and rob post offices, mug the eldery or smuggle drugs but we dont. The reasion is we dont want to accept the conciquences that getting caught would hold.

As for what kind of drug he was caught trafficing, does it matter? Its still against the law and is a crime against the state.

He caught got, will do his time and maybe make smarter ideas about getting by in the world next time.

Dawg

I think it makes a big difference as to what the drug was. If it had been anything stronger than hash then he deserves a few years. As it is, he still deserves to do time, but should get a bit more leniency(sp?) in his sentence. I smoke, and am pro-legalisation but unfortunately that time has not yet come.

What he did was just plain stupid, if he could drive a truck full of hash then why couldn't he get a job driving something legal instead of taking a massive risk for the larger benefit of some criminal organisation.

All he can do now is hope for an open-minded judge, take whatevers dished out to him and learn from his mistakes. If he had trouble getting a legitimate job before then he's in for a rough ride in the future with a criminal record hanging over him.

Question is, would he have still done it if there had been stronger substances involved? The courts view on this could make a pretty big difference to his sentence..

DeVore

Who said it was a truck-load?

How much hash was he driving? It could have been as little as an ounce for all we know. Layke, can you expand on the quantity? (Yes that matters too in my book).

First offence, small amount = parole.
First offence BIG BIG amount = 3-6 months
Second offence = 1 year.

Anything stronger then Hash = 1+years.

That would be my belief.

DeV.

Venom

Originally posted by Dawg
I think it makes a big difference as to what the drug was. If it had been anything stronger than hash then he deserves a few years. As it is, he still deserves to do time, but should get a bit more leniency(sp?) in his sentence. I smoke, and am pro-legalisation but unfortunately that time has not yet come.

No it hasnt come yet. I to think that it should be legal to smoke dope but that wasnt the issue here. The issue was he knowing broke the law, got caught and now has to do his time.

rubadub

Originally posted by Saruman

Sorry but i have no time for drug dealers of any kind... even those who "just needed the cash!"

yeah i especially hate those damn publicans in their fancy cars ripping off poor unfortunate ethanol addicts with ridiculous prices in their cosy cartel. as for shopkeepers selling nicotine to underage kids just for profit, sick....

farmers selling illegal poitin ruining peoples lives just like the off licence owners.



was he done before?
how much did he have?
from what country?

Dawg

Who said it was a truck-load?

Ok, I probably presumed too much saying a truck load but in fairness why would anyone hire a driver to move an ounce or two around? Considering he is now remanded in custody I would imagine were talking at the least a few bars. A bit more clarification on the amount would help, and I agree the quantity does make a big difference.

No it hasnt come yet. I to think that it should be legal to smoke dope but that wasnt the issue here. The issue was he knowing broke the law, got caught and now has to do his time.

Thats exactly the point I was trying to make. Its not yet legal, he knew that, got caught and has to face the consequences regardless of my view, his view or anybody elses on the legality of hash.

Beëlzebooze

why would anyone hire a driver to move an ounce or two around?

I think layke's friend's predicament answers that one for you.

Victor

If you want to do something for your friend, tell him to prove (not just say, but thats important aswell) he is sorry. Has he shown he has sorted himself out personally, workwise, etc.?

Has he told the Garda who his "employer" was?

mike65

Send him down! Drug runners don't deserve a "break" they deserve whipping in public.

Mike.

Executive Steve

generally people only really use drivers if theyre carrying upwards of a couple of bars - depending on how antsy they feel about muggers [firstly] and cops [distant second im afraid - sorry to burst your bubble].. i cant really comment unless i you tell me how much he had in the car, and i mean how much by weight, not "street value"....

woosaysdan

throw the book at him everyday people are destroying their lives with drugs and people like him arent helping the situation! if he needed the money so badly why didnt he get a job in a supermarket or somewhere like that!!!