'He is very hardworking – a family man': Gardaí do not expect Cork man to come to their attention again, court hears 

A 39-year-old man who was under pressure to store €37,500 worth of cannabis at his home had sentencing in his case adjourned for one year as gardaí described him as a man they did not expect to encounter again in the future.

Christopher O’Connell of 77 Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, Cork, had sentencing adjourned until November 1 2024.

Detective Garda Rory Fogarty testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that gardaí executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home on February 9 2022.

Christopher O’Connell was present at the house when the search was conducted and 1.8 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of €37,500 was seized.

“The cannabis was in the rear of the property. He was cooperative immediately and stated that the drugs were his, that he was holding them for someone and he was under pressure to do so.

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said, “He was in a vulnerable situation. 

"It was a foolish mistake. He was not involved in dealing these drugs. He was holding them for someone else.” 

Det. Garda Fogarty replied that this suggestion was accepted by An Garda Síochána.

Mr Boland said, “In general, he is a very hardworking man – a family man. It is unlikely he will come to garda attention again.” This was also accepted by Det. Garda Fogarty.

Christopher O’Connell faced the possibility of a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years because the drugs had a street value greater than €13,000. However, Mr Boland submitted that the judge could depart from this because of the exceptional nature of the case and could even impose a fully suspended sentence.

“He was holding the drugs as a storesman, not as a dealer,” Mr Boland said. He suggested that the assessment by the probation service that he was a moderate risk of reoffending could become more favourable in time when more time had elapsed and further efforts at and proof of rehabilitation had occurred. He urged the judge to adjourn sentencing for one year.

Judge Boyle took into consideration the view of the gardaí that this is a man who they did not expect to come to their attention in the future and agreed to the defence application.