Thursday, December 19, 2024

Drug dealing former Ireland cricketer warned of ‘threat to his life’

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Harry Archer (23), from Kelly’s Bay Rocks in Skerries, Co Dublin, is due before Dublin Circuit Court on Tuesday after being caught with cannabis for sale or supply.

He was caught with the drugs at Dun Saithne Crescent in Balbriggan on the January 18, 2022.

It is Archer’s latest time before the courts on drug dealing charges and will be his second case to come before separate courts in less than a week.

He appeared before Swords District Court in January where he admitted counts of dangerous driving and possession of cannabis as well as having the drug for sale or supply.

Harry Archer was a promising cricketer for Ireland

That case was back up before Swords District Court on Wednesday before it was adjourned until September for sentencing.

His lawyer told the court in January that Archer was battling drug addiction at the time of his offending.

He said he had built up a drug debt and had received a Garda Information Message (GIM) — an official warning to let a person know of a threat to their life, his lawyer told the court.

Archer was a hugely talented cricketer and was part of the Ireland team at underage level and played for a number of cricket teams including The Hills, Rush and Balbriggan until 2021.

He was also involved in Cricket Leinster and as part of that set-up travelled to South Africa for nine weeks in 2017 to compete in cricket matches and coach children there.

The following year he won the Division 3 Batting Award at the Cricket Leinster Award ceremony while still in his teens.

However, in more recent times Archer got involved in drugs and his life started to spiral.

In January’s hearing, defence lawyer Kelly Richardson said Archer had previously worked as a plasterer but started using cannabis, and was keeping “bad company”. He eventually ended up with a drug debt.

He was now clean of cannabis and focused on staying out of trouble, she said.

Judge Dermot Dempsey ordered a probation report and urinalysis to see if Archer was suitable to complete 240 hours community service in lieu of nine months in jail.

Swords District Court heard gardai were on mobile patrol on the R132 in Balbriggan on March 14, 2023 when they came across Archer, who failed to stop for them.

Sergeant Patricia McGarrity said Archer drove at speeds of over 80kph in a built-up area, and drove at speed over ramps. At Dardistown Archer saw a marked patrol car in front of him and tried to complete a three-point turn. He got stuck in a ditch, immobilising the car. Cannabis worth €566 as well as €410 in cash were found in the car, the court heard.

In other matters, Garda Stephen O’Toole said gardai searched the defendant’s home on July 15, 2021 and found cannabis with a street value of €2,000, and cocaine worth €40.

Garda O’Toole said there was drug paraphernalia and €1,450 in cash found in Archer’s car.

The accused also admitted possession of three bags of cannabis, worth €120, on December 16, 2021 and a further €500 worth of cannabis after he was stopped on February 8, 2022.

Ms Richardson said Archer was stuck in a loop, but he spent some time in Cloverhill, and going into prison was the “best thing” for him. He is providing clean urine and was no longer addicted to cannabis.

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