'I flew too close to the sun' - man was selling cannabis to pay off debt
Waterford Courthouse
A Waterford man has received a fully suspended sentence for possession of thousands of euros worth of drugs.
Matthew Murphy (30), of Parliament Street, Waterford City, appeared for sentencing at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O'Kelly.
On the morning of September 17, 2024, Gardaí executed a search warrant on Murphy's address on Parliament Street, Waterford City. They discovered Murphy asleep on a couch and a large quantity of ketamine in a plastic bag.
Gardaí recovered ketamine weighed at 245g and valued at €14,820. They also recovered cannabis worth €3,796 and cocaine worth €191.
Murphy told the Gardaí that he was "holding" the drugs but did not reveal the source. He said that he was selling cannabis to pay off his own drug debt, mainly in quantities worth €50. He said: "I just do it to get my own smoke."
When asked by Gardaí if he was "truly responsible" for the drugs he responded: "I have no choice, I'm not throwing anyone under the bus."
The court heard that Murphy had been working as a successful DJ before the arrest but had fallen in over his head.
"I flew too close to the sun."
Defence counsel David Bulbulia told the court that his client was fully cooperative with the Gardaí and made "fulsome" admissions.
