A 27-year-old man whose son was killed in a petrol bomb attack in Co Offaly in December has been jailed for seven years over a seizure of more than €32,000 worth of heroin near his home in Edenderry in 2024.
Aaron Holt of Castleview Park, Edenderry, had pleaded guilty to the possession of over €32,000 worth of heroin near his home in Edenderry in May 2024.
His co-accused, 26-year-old Shane O'Neill, of Killane Court, Edenderry, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, was jailed for a year and a half.
Judge Keenan Johnson said this case had highlighted the scourge of illicit drugs in society.
He said it was clear Holt was involved in a sizeable operation and the main driver behind a significant quantity of drug dealing in the area.
He said the grip that he had is reflected in the significant number of clients.
Judge Johnson also acknowledged that Holt had lost his son and aunt in a petrol bomb attack in December.
The Judge sympathised and said it illustrated the profound negative consequences of involvement in the drugs industry.
He said while Holt had offered an apology to the court and his family for his actions over the last number of years, a probation report had questioned his remorse and commitment to change.
Four-year-old son Tadgh Farrell and aunt Mary Holt, 60, were killed in a petrol bomb attack at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry, on 6 December.
Holt's mother, who was injured in the attack, has suffered life-changing injuries.
Evidence hears gardaí recovered bag down laneway near Holt's house
At a sentencing hearing in Tullamore Circuit Court two weeks ago, Garda Trevor Mullins gave evidence.
The court heard on 8 May, 2024 O'Neill was observed retrieving a package at the rear laneway of Castleview Park in Edenderry before entering Holt’s home.
O’Neill then left the house and placed the package back down the same laneway.
Tullamore Circuit Court heard how gardaí later recovered the black bag, which contained €32,910 of heroin.
The following day, Holt’s home was raided on foot of a search warrant, and a tick list was found under his bed.
Bags for packing drugs were found in the kitchen press, while a number of mobile phones were seized.
At O’Neill’s home, he was lying on the couch when gardaí entered and seized his phone.
A so-called tick list was also found, which included debts of almost €100,000 with names beside different figures.
The court also heard of messages between Holt and O’Neill on the TikTok social media app.
In various exchanges, Holt wrote: "How’s work, don’t forget gear."
In another, he said: "Will you please bring gear to me? I’ll give you 5p."
CCTV footage showed Holt and O’Neill later looking for the drugs after they had been seized by the gardaí.
In a message to someone else, Holt said: "There’s going to be war boys."
Garda Trevor Mullins agreed when Shane Geraghty BL for the prosecution said: "Mr Holt was trying to get CCTV from third parties to find out where drugs were found."
The court heard that during garda interviews, Holt made no admissions.
O’Neill, on the other hand, was "forthright", accepting he sometimes hid drugs for €20 to €50.
He also told gardaí that the tick list found in his home belonged to Holt.
Tullamore Circuit Court heard how Holt has 59 previous convictions, while O'Neill has no previous convictions.
In defence for O’Neill, the court heard how he is in employment, has not come to garda attention since, and he had moved away from criminal figures.
Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC for Holt said that his client’s four-year-old son and aunt were killed in a "serious criminal incident" last month.
He added that Holt’s mother remains in the hospital being treated.
He explained that his client was not present for his own son’s funeral after being refused compassionate bail.
A letter was read out on Holt’s behalf, and in it he apologised for significant mistakes he has made over the years.
Mr Ó Dúnlaing said what had happened in December had hit Holt like a train coming down the tracks, and the past month had been the most painful period of his life.
He said it had caused Holt to seriously reflect on his own life, and he now understands the impact that the significant mistakes made over the years are having on him and his family.
