A judge has responded to a plea to consider the sporting achievements of an athlete caught with over €80,000 in drugs by remanding him in custody and telling his counsel: “I don’t care if he was running from here to Donegal for charity.”
The judge also noted that, despite engaging in the Restorative Justice Programme and telling them that he was changing his life, the defendant Richard Kamson (24) had again come to the attention of gardai, who do not accept he is at low risk of reoffending.
Well-know Galway athlete Kamson, of Straith Fhada, Doughiska, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in Doughiska and Merlin Woods on September 14, 2021. He had no previous convictions at the time of this offending.
At a previous hearing earlier this week, Garda Brian Collins told Geri Silke, BL, prosecuting, that a warrant was issued for Kamson’s address on September 14, 2021. Kamson was present at his home along with his mother, with cocaine and cannabis found in the defendant’s bedroom.
The court heard that Kamson also brought gardai to a nearby area and to Merlin Park Woods, where two gear bags containing drugs were also recovered.
The drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, with cocaine with a street value of just under €24k and cannabis with a value of €57k confirmed.
The court was told that Kamson is a well-known athlete.
Gda Collins agreed with Bernard Madden, SC, defending, that his client’s assistance was significant, while during interview Kamson told gardai that the drugs were not his and that he was holding them for someone.
Mr Madden said his client is now attending college and the probation report places him at low risk of reoffending. However Gda Collins disagreed with this, stating that Kamson is currently under investigation by gardai for other alleged offences.
Judge Brian O’Callaghan interjected and said it seemed that the defendant had misled the court, which is in contrast with what is outlined in the probation report.
He adjourned the sentence until today for additional information from the Probation Service.
Mr Brendan Browne BL, defending, today told the court that his client is an athletic person, to which the judge responded: “I don’t care if he was running from here to Donegal for charity – he has clearly been using his athleticism for other uses.”
Mr Browne told the court that Probation Service had been contacted and were aware that Kamson had come to adverse attention, but they still believe he is at low risk of reoffending.
Judge O’Callaghan said Kamson had been engaging in the Restorative Justice Programme, telling them that he was changing his life and that he had been “taken hugely” after speaking with a former addict and that he now had victim awareness. However, the judge said in the middle of this, the defendant came to garda attention.
Judge O’Callaghan said Kamson had committed a serious crime, remanded him in custody and adjourned the finalisation of the case until June 10 next.