Man caught with €8k worth of cocaine in Cork gets suspended jail sentence

A MAN caught with over €8,000 worth of cocaine in Cobh was given a suspended jail sentence.

Detective Garda Rachel McGrath testified that Keanu Siggins, 24, had his property searched at Barrymore Avenue, Cobh, County Cork, on December 20, 2018.

The garda dog unit was present for the search and certain drug paraphernalia were found in a tin box, including a weighing scales and a tick-list.

Also found was €8,200 worth of cocaine.

“He admitted it was cocaine. He admitted he had it for the purpose of supply,” Det. Garda McGrath testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

“It is my understanding he had a debt, not a drug debt but some monetary debt. He was doing this to pay it off,” the detective added.

The 24-year-old had no previous convictions and did not come to the attention of gardaí since this occurred back in December 2018.

Defence barrister, Sinéad Behan, said, “He was fully cooperative and gave no difficulty whatsoever.” Judge Brian O’Callaghan imposed a jail term of two years which he suspended on condition that the accused would pay €3,000 to the Garda Superintendent at Midleton garda station for the benefit of a local drugs task force.

Ms Behan BL said that when the defendant was younger he had an issue with cannabis but was a long time clear of that difficulty and was in full time employment.