Victim of drug-debt commended by Waterford Judge for coming forward
Soon after the transaction, Troy demanded that the man pay him €100, and quickly escalated the debt to €500, then €1,000 within an hour.
A victim of drug debt related crime has been praised by a Waterford judge for coming forward to report their tormentor.
At Waterford Circuit Court, Judge Eugene O’Kelly remarked that the ‘message has to go out’ that victims of drug debt-related violence can come forward and be protected by the law.
The comments were made at the sentencing hearing of Sean Troy (25), who had pleaded guilty to several charges, including Section 2 assault, burglary, violent disorder, and demanding money with menace.
Troy, of Ardmore Terrace, Ballybeg, sold €25 worth of cannabis to a man in Waterford City. Soon after the transaction, Troy demanded that the man pay him €100, and quickly escalated the debt to €500, then €1,000 within an hour.
On November 27, 2023, Troy sent the man multiple text and audio messages demanding money and threatening the man.
The victim met Troy in the forecourt of a petrol station on Paddy Browne’s Road, Lisduggan.
He gave Troy €100 but Troy proceeded to punch him “in the kidney” and demand more money.
CCTV captured footage of the incident. After the attack, the victim went to Waterford Garda Station, visibly upset and shaken, and informed Gardaí that he was in fear for his safety.
Meanwhile, Troy had made his way into the man’s apartment, broken down his bedroom door, and proceeded to take a television and a Macbook laptop.
Troy called the victim and left a voicemail. He said in the message: “Hurry up and get my money you handicap bastard. I have your TV and your Macbook.”
The laptop was recovered by the victim five months after the crime, but the television and €100 were not.
Gardaí arrested Troy at his address within the hour of the victim’s report. He made no admissions during his interview with Gardaí.
In Waterford Circuit Court, Detective Garda Sean Lane confirmed that Troy has six previous convictions, mostly drug-related and dealt with in District Court.
Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL told the Court that Troy had had a very difficult early life, having lost both his mother and father in tragic circumstances by the age of 17. He had to leave school early to find a job and had struggled with substances throughout the years. The court heard that Troy had apologised to the victim and returned his laptop through mutual acquaintances.
Judge O’Kelly said: “This is a shocking case. Unfortunately this court is seeing this more and more. This is as bad as I have seen recently.” Referring to the victim, Judge O’Kelly stated that they did not make a Victim Impact Statement “out of fear” but commended him for coming forward.
Judge O’Kelly said: “A very clear message has to be sent that victims are entitled to the safety of the law.”
Troy was sentenced to three years and nine months with the final nine months suspended. He will be subject to supervision for 12 months post release.
