Passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the case was a “particularly vivid” illustration of how far wrong things can go when people become “enmeshed in criminality” through taking “so-called recreational drugs”.
The judge noted Archbold had the benefit of previous good character and was “not of particular interest” to the Garda before this incident. He said he thought it was likely the defendant became involved in the crime by way of “a chaotic and serious drug addiction”.
Mr Justice Hunt said Archbold was apparently homeless at the time of his arrest and said it was to his credit that he was able to work while in the throes of a serious drug habit. He said it was his view that Archbold’s plea of guilty, which was entered in March of this year, was the principal mitigating factor in the case.
In his submissions to the court, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC said his client accepted he had drug addiction problems and that his life was very chaotic in the six months before this offence, with things escalating quite quickly by taking crack cocaine. Archbold, he said, had received threats for not paying debts owed.
Judge: He’d have got a suspended sentence if he shot him once in the head but the second bullet unfortunately forces me to intervene.
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You don’t say.
Well… thats Ok then !
Passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the case was a “particularly vivid” illustration of how far wrong things can go when people become “enmeshed in criminality” through taking “so-called recreational drugs”.
The judge noted Archbold had the benefit of previous good character and was “not of particular interest” to the Garda before this incident. He said he thought it was likely the defendant became involved in the crime by way of “a chaotic and serious drug addiction”.
Mr Justice Hunt said Archbold was apparently homeless at the time of his arrest and said it was to his credit that he was able to work while in the throes of a serious drug habit. He said it was his view that Archbold’s plea of guilty, which was entered in March of this year, was the principal mitigating factor in the case.
In his submissions to the court, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC said his client accepted he had drug addiction problems and that his life was very chaotic in the six months before this offence, with things escalating quite quickly by taking crack cocaine. Archbold, he said, had received threats for not paying debts owed.
Judge: He’d have got a suspended sentence if he shot him once in the head but the second bullet unfortunately forces me to intervene.