Letterkenny drug dealer warned that prison is possible

A drug dealer charged with possessing almost €2,700 worth of illegal drugs in Letterkenny, has been warned that he is at risk of a prison sentence.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham warned Steven Deduytsche to be under no illusions when he appeared at Letterkenny District Court.

Twice, Deduytsche was caught in three separate sting operations selling drugs to undercover gardaí.

Deduytsche, a 26-year-old father-of-three, who is now residing in Dundalk, was living at Long Lane, Letterkenny, when the offences occurred.

The court heard that Gardaí, armed with a Misuse of Drugs warrant, raided his home on March 20, 2021 and found quantities of cannabis totalling €1,168.

Gardai also located cannabis plants to the value of €800 in the attic. Officers found evidence of cultivation of cannabis and equipment was seized by gardaí.

On September 2, 2021, Gardai observed Deduytsche acting suspiciously. When he was detained and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station he was found in possession of deal bags containing €726 worth of cannabis.

On September 8, 2021, Deduytsche was caught selling drugs when Gardaí lured him to sell €50 worth of cannabis to an undercover member of the force at Manorview, Letterkenny.

He was also duped into selling €100 worth of cocaine to an undercover Gardaí at Rosemount Lane, Letterkenny on November 23, 2021 and Port Road, Letterkenny, on March 2, 2022.

Deduytsche was also charged with drug-driving and driving without insurance over an incident at Ballymacool, Letterkenny, on October 4, 2021.

The accused man has 22 previous convictions, Sergeant Jim Collins told the court.

Solicitor for Deduytsche, Mr Kieran O’Gorman said his client was at all times cooperative with Gardai and has admitted everything.

Mr O’Gorman said Deduytsche is a Belgian national who is now settled with his partner and three young children in Dundalk. Mr O’Gorman handed in a reference from Deduytsche’s current employer to the court. 

Judge Cunningham said she was not impressed by the charges before her.

“Your client is very much at risk in terms of previous and the matters that are before the court,” Judge Cunningham said.

Judge Cunningham ordered the preparation of a probation and welfare report and told Mr O’Gorman that his client should not be under any illusion.

“Unless the probation report tells me something different in terms of progress, I am very much looking at a custodial sentence,” she said.

The matter was adjourned until January 6, 2025.