{"id":212399,"date":"2025-06-25T06:04:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T06:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/212399\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T06:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T06:04:11","slug":"man-calls-for-tougher-drugs-sentences-after-sons-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/212399\/","title":{"rendered":"Man calls for tougher drugs sentences after son’s death"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TomTom McGrath<\/p>\n

Tom McGrath’s 22-year-old son Matthew had been using cocaine for several years before he was found dead <\/p>\n

The father of a man who killed himself after becoming addicted to cocaine, is calling for automatic custodial sentences for those caught dealing the drug.<\/p>\n

Last month, the National Crime Agency made the largest seizure of cocaine in Northern Ireland at Belfast Port<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Police have warned that organised crime gangs are “taking advantage” of the Common Travel Area, which allows free movement of goods between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. <\/p>\n

Tom McGrath’s 22-year-old son Matthew had been using cocaine for several years when he was found dead in the garage of his mother’s home in County Armagh in February 2024.<\/p>\n

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme<\/a>, Mc McGrath said his son’s mood could change greatly from “hyper” to “very emotional”. <\/p>\n

“Many a time he would have lain on my shoulder, crying and saying: ‘I can’t get off that, I can’t get off that.’<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t a cry for help\u2026 he’d just had enough,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mr McGrath asked the priest at Matthew’s funeral to talk about the dangers of cocaine and his son’s own battle with drugs.<\/p>\n

\"TomTom McGrath<\/p>\n

Tom McGrath said he is particularly concerned that many people who deal drugs don’t end up serving jail time.<\/p>\n

Mr McGrath said he is particularly concerned that many people who deal drugs do not end up serving jail time.<\/p>\n

He said: “How many times do you see them going before the courts and getting custodial sentences?<\/p>\n

“The dealers and suppliers aren’t being prosecuted properly.”<\/p>\n

In the UK, cocaine is classified as a Class A drug. Class A drugs are considered to be the most harmful and attract the most serious fines and punishments.<\/p>\n

In April, six men, who the PSNI said were involved in organised crime, were given suspended sentences despite being linked to seizures of cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.<\/p>\n

However, the police would not say whether they felt that was an appropriate deterrent.<\/p>\n

Det Supt Avine Kelly, from the PSNI’s organised crime branch, said that she could not comment on sentencing. <\/p>\n

“Judiciary have sentencing guidelines that they work to and that is not a matter for policing,” she said. <\/p>\n

“I suppose the deterrent from a policing perspective is that we are actively seeking to locate, arrest, charge and bring drug dealers before the courts.”<\/p>\n

What are the maximum sentences for drug dealing?<\/p>\n

The maximum sentences for intent to supply drugs are:<\/p>\n