Drug squad found €11,000 worth of cannabis in Youghal house 

Drugs squad gardaí raided a house in Youghal and found a stash of cannabis with a street value of over €11,000.

The drug detection was made by Midleton drugs unit who obtained a warrant to search the house at 4 Ard Carrig, Golf Links Road, Youghal, County Cork.

Detective Garda David O’Shea outlined the background to the case at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

It dated back to September 22, 2021. When the warrant was executed for the search the drugs were soon located in the house.

Det. Garda O’Shea said the accused man, 37-year-old James O’Brien cooperated with the investigation in so far as he admitted his own part in the possession of cannabis.

Ultimately, he was prosecuted for having the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to others and pleaded guilty to that charge.

John Devlin, defence barrister, said at the sentencing hearing that the accused had certain learning difficulties as a younger person.

However, he said that he had obtained work and had also attended rehabilitation to deal with drugs issues and was now clear of drugs.

Judge Colin Daly decided that the appropriate sentence was one of three years but that he would suspend this jail term on condition that he would engage with addiction treatment services.

The judge said he was taking into consideration the defendant admitting his part in the incident, his participation in drug treatment and cooperation to some extent with An Garda Síochána.