Cobh man was dealing cocaine to clear €20k drug debt

A COBH man was dealing cocaine in an effort to clear a €20,000 drugs debt, but his stash of drugs was found by gardaí during a search being carried out for an unrelated matter.

Detective Garda Diarmuid O’Neill testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that gardaí went to a property at a farmhouse in the Cobh area of Co Cork on December 17, 2022.

Even though Jack Cronin was not the target of that particular search and investigation, he is now commencing a one-year jail sentence for the drug-dealing offence as a result of what they uncovered on the day.

Cronin lives at Foster’s Haven, Cobh. However, the drugs were found at a different property.

Det Gda O’Neill agreed that gardaí had a warrant to conduct a search in a matter that was not related to Mr Cronin, but when present, they came across a room that was padlocked. This room was forced open and the drugs were uncovered.

Barrister Donal O’Sullivan said that, without the admissions by the accused there would have been no case.

Others said he was renting the room, but that would not have been admissible evidence, the barrister suggested, adding that the admissions and signed plea of guilty should be seen in that context.

Mr O’Sullivan said the admissions showed some insight and the desire of the accused to turn his life around.

Judge Colin Daly said the accused was actively involved in drug dealing, albeit to clear a drug debt.

A total sentence of two years was imposed, with the second year of the sentence suspended.