Dubliner Christopher Nugent, who worked security on Love/Hate and Vikings, has been jailed over drug discovery worth more than €79,000
Christopher Nugent, 39, worked as a security guard for productions such as “Love/Hate” and “Vikings,” but lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic
The Dublin Criminal Court was told that Christopher Nugent (39) had worked, among other things, as a security guard for television and film productions Love-hate relationship And Vikings but lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nugent, of Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply on August 1, 2020 in Drumfinn Road.
Passing sentence today, Judge Orla Crowe pointed out that the effects of illegal drug use and the “misery” of addiction, which are regularly heard in court, are “all facilitated by the proliferation of drugs”.
She said they were very serious allegations and noted that aggravating aspects included the value of the drugs and Nugent’s “active role in their distribution.”
She imposed a prison sentence of four and a half years, the last twelve months were suspended for two years under strict conditions.
Christopher Nugent
An investigating gardaí told prosecutor David Perry BL that gardaí launched a surveillance operation after receiving confidential information. While they were watching Nugent driving on Drumfinn Road, they noticed a white BMW pulling in behind him.
Nugent parked his car and the white BMW pulled up behind it. The driver of the BMW, a co-defendant, got out and handed Nugent a black bag.
Gardaí intervened and Nugent dropped the bag, which contained 3.96kg of cannabis in four wrapped parcels with a street value of €79,204.
Nugent was arrested and interviewed, but nothing conclusive was obtained. He initially accepted a trial date but pleaded guilty last May. He has 16 previous convictions, mainly traffic offences, which the district court is dealing with.
The court heard the co-accused was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended in October 2021.
An investigating officer agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that his client had taken a trial date to allow time for drug analysis, which classified him as “substandard”.
It was further accepted that Nugent was not on the Garda radar, that he had been without conviction for a period of time and that he had not come to Garda attention since this incident.
The Garda agreed that Nugent was stopped outside his home and that he had no financial interest in the drugs.
Mr Spencer said his instructions were that Nugent should be paid €100 for his role, but Garda said this was not raised in the interview.
The defense told the court that his client was “sceptical” about whether the drug was cannabis or not. The analysis showed that it was “inferior” and “there may not be a large market” for this drug.
Nugent worked as a security guard on film and television productions such as “Vikings” and “Love/Hate,” but lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic. His conviction would impact his ability to renew his security license, but a previous employer had indicated they would be willing to employ him in a different role in the future, Mr Spencer said.
He said this was the first time his client had been involved in drug transport and should receive “small compensation” for his role.
Mr. Spencer said Nugent “didn’t know he was going to become his own character.” Love-hate relationship“.
Nugent volunteers for a local sports club and supports his mother, an elderly neighbor and other family members. He has a child.
He drank a lot back then, but is sober now. A number of references and a letter from Tiglin were handed over to the court.
Nugent’s niece took the stand to testify on his behalf.
Judge Crowe said the court “fails to see” how the quality of the drugs “makes any difference” since “value is value.”
She noted the mitigating aspects of the case, including family support, Nugent’s professional history and steps taken to address addiction issues.
Judge Crowe noted that Nugent lost his job due to Covid-19 and came under pressure to act as a “courier”. However, she noted that others had also lost their jobs due to the pandemic and “would not necessarily have exhibited this behavior.”
She said there had been “a whole lot of good things” in Nugent’s life, but said the court could not overlook the delay in admitting guilt and that he was “equally guilty” as his co-defendants.
