Cork drug dealer, 19, to do community service to avoid jail

A young man who admitted drug dealing at North Monastery Rd in Cork will avoid a prison sentence if he completes 120 hours of community service.

That was the penalty imposed by Judge Sinead Behan on Warren Forde, aged 19, of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, Cork, who signed a plea of guilty to charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The main charge was of having cannabis on North Monastery Rd, Cork, on August 18, 2023, for the purpose of selling or supplying to others.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan said a black Volkswagen Golf was stopped at around 10pm that night and Forde was a backseat passenger in the car that contained four people.

Cannabis worth €3,600 was found in the car. Forde was the one who admitted that he was responsible for all of the drugs found.

Judge Behan said the young man had frailties and she was prepared to give him an opportunity to do 120 hours of community service instead of nine months in prison.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the young man was not a person of interest to gardaí prior to or since this incident. Det Sgt O’Sullivan agreed.

“He volunteered ownership of cannabis in the car, a car he did not own. His plan was to stand around and see who came over to him,” said Ms Audley in relation to a supply charge.