Suspended sentence for man caught with almost €10k of cannabis concealed in clothes sack 

A 58-year-old man distributing clothes from clothing banks around Cork was caught with a half kilo of cannabis with a street value of almost €10,000 concealed in one of the clothes sacks.

Detective Garda John Sheedy gave evidence in the case against Patrick Hanlon of Broadwell House, Beach Road, Passage West, County Cork.

Mr Hanlon pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting his Volkswagen golf car to be used for the distribution of drugs.

The detective said the defendant’s car was searched and six bags of clothing were found and that inside one of the clothing sacks there was a bag containing a half kilo of cannabis with a street value of almost €10,000.

Det. Garda Sheedy said, “He is from Passage West. He is living there all his life. He has a number of medical problems. He told me at the time that he was involved in the collection of clothing from clothing banks and the transporting of clothes all over the country.” 

Patrick Hanlon had four previous convictions for having drugs for sale or supply.

Defence barrister Paula McCarthy said, “This goes back to May 2019 and he has come to no adverse attention since. And of his previous convictions – the most recent one goes back almost ten years. He is remorseful for his actions.” 

Judge McCourt said, “This is an offence of knowingly permitting the distribution of cannabis from your car. I don’t see any significant insight for someone who got a prison sentence before. You went out and did it all again. It suggests you didn’t learn from your previous wrongdoing.”

The judge took into consideration evidence of chronic health problems experienced by the accused at the moment.

“I don’t think the interests of society would be served by imprisoning him,” Judge McCourt said.

A sentence of three years was suspended on condition that he would keep the peace for the next four years.