A teenager has narrowly avoided imprisonment for drug-dealing at his school and as this progressed through the court he attempted to obtain more drugs by having them delivered to a local shop and not his home.
Matthew Kyle (19) from Glendavagh Road, Aughnacloy first came to police attention on January 26, 2024 when the principal of Dungannon Royal School had located a small container containing a substance in liquid form alongside a rechargeable vape.
The drugs turned out to be tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The items were found in an unmarked bag on the school grounds and during an internal investigation Kyle made admissions to having the drugs.
He claimed to have purchased these from a friend then sold them on school premises.
The items were seized by police and during interview Kyle made full admissions to possessing the drugs and selling them for £30.
While these matters were progress however he was detected with drugs again 10 months later when on October 18, 2024 police attended a Dungannon shop where package suspected to contain drugs was delivered.
It was addressed to the shop with Kyle’s name on it and was found to contain two THC vapes and a packet of THC gummies.
The same day a Kyle entered the shop and stated a package had been delivered there for him .
A vehicle attributed to him was stopped by police a short time later and he was arrested.
During interview he admitted ordering the vapes but denied anything to do with the gummies and believed these were a “bonus” for his purchase.
A defence barrister said Kyle was permitted to complete his A Levels in digital technology at Dungannon Royal School, despite what had occurred.
He continued: “It is accepted the first incident occurred on school property and that is an aggravating feature. He was an 18-year-old and sold the drugs to a fellow student. Staff became aware and he was excluded for a period of time. He was allowed back to the school and is very thankful for that.”
The defence said Kyle’s parents were, “very disappointed in his behaviour at the school and when the second incident occurred he was read the riot act.”
In the second matter Kyle was, “coy enough not to have the package go to his home” and taken together the matters are “all the more serious”.
Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare enquired: “Presumably his parents also read the riot act over the incident at the school when he was in possession of THC never mind supplying it to another pupil? Presumably they believed the whole thing had been out to bed but were aware there was a police investigation.
“Then there is further deliberate, planned behaviour to obtain THC, which all suggests a deeper problem to be addressed. That’s balanced against the bright future he is putting into jeopardy and bringing even more disgrace to his family. Supplying drugs in the school was bad enough but to continue to try to obtain them makes the situation more concerning.”
The defence replied: “His parents were so relieved he was allowed back to finish his A-Levels. They assure me they are watching him like a hawk.”
Addressing Kyle directly, Judge O’Hare said: “You brought drugs into school with the sole aim of supplying them to someone. To make it worse you then tried to get drugs for yourself by ordering them to a different address. You have put your liberty and your future in jeopardy. There was nothing harmless about this. It involved significant criminal activity.”
Having initially considered imprisonment, Judge O’Hare opted “with some hesitation” to impose an 18 month Probation Order.
A Destruction Order was granted in respect of the drugs and vapes.
