Cork man prosecuted for dealing out of ‘mobile drugs operation’

An Airbnb guest left a backpack containing cocaine and ketamine behind him in an apartment at Innishannon, Co Cork, and gardaí were alerted, which resulted in the 40-year-old man being prosecuted for dealing out of his “mobile drugs operation”.

Garda Aisling O’Connell testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that she responded to a call on November 12, 2022, from the owner of the property at Main St, Innishannon, in relation to the suspicious material.

Invited into the house, Garda O’Connell examined what was found. It was later confirmed in forensic examination that it was cocaine and ketamine.

Alan O’Callaghan, of Oakfield Avenue, Brooklodge, Glanmire, Co Cork, had been staying in the apartment the previous night.

Shortly after the drugs were discovered, Garda O’Connell saw Mr O’Callaghan in a car in Innishannon. When she approached, she got a strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle.

Garda O’Connell described the defendant’s actions as evasive. Further quantities of drugs were discovered in a search of the car.

The total value of drugs in the apartment was over €2,100 and those found in the car had a value of €1,700.

Garda O’Connell said: “We have an ongoing concern about his involvement in drugs in Cork county.”

Defence barrister Alan O’Dwyer said the 40-year-old suffered from alcoholism.

“He did deal with that, but he fell off the wagon, racked up a drugs debt, and ended up in this criminality,” the barrister said.

Judge Colin Daly described what was found in the apartment as “a mobile drugs operation”, valued at almost €4,000.

The judge said the question he had to ask of the defendant was: “Was he simply having a good time and using this as a way to make money?”

Judge Daly said the sentence he had in mind was one of two years.

However, he said he would adjourn the imposition of sentence for one year for the accused to engage in rehabilitation and comply with the directions of the Probation Service.

The judge told him that failure to do this in full would result in the two-year sentence being imposed.

If the accused is fully compliant, the sentence will be suspended next year, the judge said.