Cork man had heroin deals near city hospital, court told

A 38-year-old man caught with a pack of heroin deals bulging from the back of his pants when arrested during a drugs investigation near Mercy University Hospital was brought before Cork District Court yesterday.

Gavin Sheehan of 7 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, was arrested by Detective Garda Shane Hayes, who objected to bail for the accused.

The accused man held back tears in the witness box as he said he wanted to build up a life with his child and get clear of drugs.

Judge Mary Dorgan granted him bail and adjourned the case until April 7.

Detective Garda Shane Hayes said a garda investigation into diamorphine (heroin) dealing in Cork city led to the arrest of Mr Sheehan near the entrance to the emergency department of the hospital at 12pm on Monday, March 24.

Charged

He was charged with possession of €600 worth of diamorphine and having the drug — in the form of 12 deals — for sale or supply to others. The detective said the defendant also had €797 in cash, consistent with being paid in various denominations for drugs.

Det Gda Hayes said that prior to his arrest, Mr Sheehan was seen interacting with known drug users at the entrance to the emergency department.

As he was being taken away in a garda van, a bulge at the back of his tracksuit pants was noticed by gardaí and the suspected drugs package was retrieved, the court heard.

The detective said that, by his own admission, the defendant wanted to get out of Cork, and was using crack cocaine and heroin. Det Gda Hayes said the accused was living a chaotic lifestyle.

Bail

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that it was a relatively small amount of drugs and that it was a suitable case for bail.

He said the accused was being attacked in broad daylight in Cork city.

Mr Sheehan said: “I just want to go on treatment and try to get my life straight.

“I want to start afresh. I started seeing a counsellor.”

He said he was going well, but had been attacked a number of times, the most recently a couple of weeks ago in Fitzgerald’s Park, as a result of which he was partially blinded.

He said: “I am going around in a daze after the injury to my eye. I found it hard to cope… I apologise 100%. I want to change my life.”

He added that the judge would not regret giving him bail.