AN AWARD-winning music student who turned to selling drugs to pay off his student loans has walked free from court without a conviction.
Youth worker Kevin Monaghan, who is 25, appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
Monaghan, from 22 The Elms in Letterkenny, had been suspected by the drugs squad of being a cannabis dealer in the town.
Gardai stopped a car in the town on April 7th last year but didn’t find any drugs.
However a subsequent search of the property at The Elms uncovered €680 worth of cannabis, weighing scales, €170 in cash, a nokia phone and a tick list of customers.
Defence solicitor Kieran Dillon said Monaghan was a gifted music student who had studied at college in Derry where he had received the President’s Prize. He had gone on to Leeds University where he had received a degree in Music and Music Production.
During the course of his studies he had run up debts of €5,000 to the Credit Union and had an overdraft of €1,400, said the solicitor.
“Unfortunately he was a user (of cannabis) himself and he fell into selling it,” said Mr Dillon.
Mr Dillon also said Monaghan was a gifted musician who worked with local youth groups because “he wanted to help people”.
He said that Monaghan, who had never been before the courts before, was genuinely remorseful for what he did and co-operated fully with the probation service and realised the results of his actions.
Judge Paul Kelly said he had expressed serious concerns at a previous hearing when he learned a drug dealer was working with youth organisations at the time.
“I was struggling to deal with how someone working with youth services could be before the court on drug dealing charges,” said the judge.
“You seem to have made a very good impression on the probation service. I have also been given very impressive references from Donegal Youth Services and the Letterkenny Youth & Family Service.”
The judge ordered Monaghan to make a €500 donation to White Oaks treatment centre ”to assist them in dealing with people who may be the victims of the type of behaviour that Mr Monaghan was engaged in.”
The judge added: “I am satisfied that Mr Monaghan is a very genuine person and is at low risk of reoffending. I will leave him without a conviction.”
He told the defendant he was giving him a “substantial opportunity” and told him not to let down those who had supported him.