A CORK judge has warned that heroin is causing havoc in the city and dealers are making money out of other people’s misery.

Judge Olann Kelleher made the comments as he imposed a six-month jail term on a heroin dealer who was caught cycling around Gurranabraher with €500 worth of the drug.

“Heroin causes havoc in the city,” said Judge Kelleher. “The most serious matter here is the heroin for sale or supply — trying to make money out of other people’s misery. This causes terrible trouble in the city as everyone knows.”

Judge Kelleher imposed a six-month jail term on Eugene O’Rourke, of Orrery Rd, Gurranabraher. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to this and other charges at Cork District Court.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the crime. “On May 13, 2018, after 8.30pm, gardaí from Gurranabraher were on mobile patrol in the Cathedral Rd area of Gurranabraher when they observed a man on a bicycle, known to them as Eugene O’Rourke.

“Garda David O’Sullivan approached him and he appeared to be nervous. He informed him he was going to search him and was transferring him to Gurranabraher Garda Station for search.

“He resisted this and had to be restrained. Garda O’Sullivan located nine small plastic bags which contained deals of Diamorphine,” Sgt Kelleher said.

The nine heroin deals had a street value of €500.

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed the term of six months imprisonment.

Shorter concurrent jail terms were imposed on other offences, to which O’Rourke pleaded guilty, including the obstruction of a drugs search.

On May 11, 2018, Garda Shane Prendergast stopped the accused at Sunvalley Drive but the defendant ran away and was seen throwing an item into long grass.

O’Rourke said it was a small piece of cannabis. Despite some searching, the item was not recovered. O’Rourke also admitted the theft of three pairs of RayBans at Debenhams on Patrick Street, Cork, with a total value of €540.