Ex-lawyer Shaune Irving’s ‘desperately sad’ fall from grace triggered drug supply, court hears

A former Queensland solicitor has vowed never to practice law again after he was caught supplying cocaine to friends amid a “desperately sad” downward spiral sparked by mental health issues brought on by his military service in war zones.

A former Queensland solicitor has vowed never to practice law again after he was caught supplying cocaine to friends and making false declarations to get out of a speeding ticket.

Former lawyer Shaune Kerry James Irving, 41, was in the grips of severe mental illness sparked by his time as a war veteran serving tours in Iraq and East Timor when he was caught supplying dangerous drugs three times in late 2019.

The Brisbane District Court heard Irving was a solicitor for what was then known as Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers when the Crime and Corruption Commission began an investigation into the firm, codenamed Operation Jackal.

Crown Prosecutor Brendan White said CCC surveillance first busted Irving on the phone to a friend on November 14, 2019 saying he was on the way to the man’s house for them to have “a bump” of something “strong”.

“Mr Irving later arrived at (the friend’s) house with an unknown quantity of cocaine and supplied this to (his friend) and they consumed it together,” Mr White said.

Brisbane lawyer Shaune Kerry James Irving leaves the District Court in Brisbane. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

In December 2019, the Irving’s call to the same friend was intercepted by the CCC and they were heard discussing Bingos, a term used to describe cocaine.

Irving assured the friend he would be able to get the drug and later called back later to say “we’re on”.

Mr White said Irving collected cocaine from an address in Newstead, paying $300 for one gram which he then shared with his friend.

Later that month on December 22, Irving was at the Eleven Rooftop Bar in Fortitude Valley where he again consumed cocaine with a friend and purchased more drugs while at the venue.

Irving was also caught in a bout of separate offending earlier in 2019 after he was caught speeding in his Mercedes Benz on May 20 at Auchenflower.

Between June and August 2019 Irving, who only had one point left on his licence, signed and witnessed a series of statutory declarations falsely claiming his girlfriend had been behind the wheel at the time in a bid to avoid losing his licence.

But further investigations including mobile phone location data showed Irving was the only one in the area at the time.

Irving on Wednesday pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs and two counts of making false statutory declarations.

He was supported in the dock by his two-year-old assistance dog, a chocolate labrador named Legend.

Irving was supported in the dock by his two-year-old assistance dog, a chocolate labrador named Legend. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

Defence barrister Saul Holt KC detailed Irving’s “desperately sad” downward spiral sparked by severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder brought on by his 12-year military service in the Royal Australian Air Force in which he deployed to war zones in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Holt said upon leaving the military, Mr Irving became an advanced care paramedic where he was exposed to more trauma including murders and car crashes, adding to his mental health decline.

He then studied to become a lawyer and had a promising future ahead when he was caught supplying drugs.

Mr Holt said Irving surrendered his practising certificate and had no intention of working as a lawyer in the future.

“The punishment has been profound,” Mr Holt said.

A psychiatric report tendered to the court said Irving had a severe psychiatric illness which was a “clear link” to his substance abuse and criminality.

Judge Paul Smith sentenced Irving to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 12 and six months immediately suspended for two years.

He said but for the psychiatric evidence, including submissions that Irving was “permanently impaired”, he would have been sentenced to serve actual time behind bars.

“It’s a terrible illness, PTSD,” Judge Smith said.