A former soccer star caught with over €45,000 of cocaine and other illegal drugs has escaped a jail term.
Adrian Bajgora, 25, was caught in possession of €42,318 of cocaine, as well as smaller quantities of MDMA, ketamine, Zopiclone tablets and cannabis.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he committed the offence out of a “sense of responsibility” to his family, who were under “particular financial pressure”.
Bajgora, of Foxborough Grove in Lucan, Co Dublin, admitted having drugs for sale or supply at his address on November 1, 2019.
Garda Lee Keenan told prosecutor Tom Neville that following surveillance and suspected drugs transactions being observed, gardai obtained a search warrant.
In addition to the drugs, officers also found mixing agent and weighing scales.
Bajgora took responsibility for all of the drugs. When asked what his intention was with them, the accused said: “I plan to sell it all.”
Gda Keenan agreed with defence counsel Dean Kelly the accused does not appear to have any “criminal edge”.
He also agreed he was aware damage had been done to the family home of the accused as a result of these drugs being taken away. He agreed Bajgora is genuinely remorseful.
Gda Keenan concurred with Mr Kelly his client was a talented sportsman who has played League of Ireland soccer. Mr Kelly said Bajgora completed a two-year full-time soccer development programme with the FAI following the completion of his Leaving Certificate.
He added his client played for the reserves and from “time to time” for the first team of Longford Town.
Counsel said after this ended, Bajgora has worked in a series of low-paid jobs. He added his client made “a spectacular and life-defining error of judgement”.
Mr Kelly said his client got involved so he could make money, albeit for his family and “not to buy expensive watches”.
Judge Pauline Codd said Bajgora’s motivation was “clearly misguided” and there had to be a message that “there is no easy money in drug dealing”.
She added it is an illegal trade which brings misery to so many people.
Judge Codd said the accused has “a significant work history” and has been described by a previous manager as “a dependable person”.
She added he was “a popular and model player” who assisted young players by coaching and passing on soccer skills.
The judge said she accepted from the testimonials this offence was “out of character”.
She sentenced Bajgora to five years imprisonment, but suspended the term in its entirety on strict conditions.
