Man who returned to Spain avoids prison following appeal after drugs found in Cork city house

Gardaí from Mayfield drugs unit carried out a search of a house at Gerald Griffin St in Cork and discovered almost €2,000 worth of cannabis and €2,885 in cash and now a man who was jailed for six months in the case has successfully appealed the prison term.

Barrister Orla Meere submitted at Cork Circuit Appeals Court that the accused man, 25-year-old Caue Gonzaga, had returned to Spain where he was working in customer services in Barcelona. 

The barrister added that before this crime was detected back on May 24, 2023, he had no previous convictions.

Judge Helen Boyle agreed to suspend the six-month sentence that was imposed on him at Cork District Court.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the appellant was one of three men who were living at the address on Gerald Griffin St, Cork, where the drugs seizure was made.

For his part Mr Gonzaga pleaded guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply to others and money-laundering in respect of the cash whereby it represented the proceeds of crime.

Ms Meere said that the appellant was out on bail pending his appeal and that in fairness to him he returned to Cork to face the case and appeal the sentence.

Sergeant Kelleher accepted that as well as having no previous convictions the accused had not come to the adverse attention of gardaí since May 2023.