Suspended jail sentence for man caught with drugs in Cork city

Gambling and cannabis addictions resulted in a man agreeing to deliver €25,000 worth of cannabis but he has managed to clear himself of these addictions since the crime was detected in January 2022.

Ravi Lauria, aged 34, of Kent Road, Ballyphehane, pleaded guilty to the crime and was given a three-year suspended jail term by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him by Detective Garda Ruairi McGovern, namely having cannabis for sale or supply when its street value exceeded €13,000 on January 25, 2022, in Cork city .

Judge Boyle said: “You were actively involved in the drugs trade in that you were making a delivery on behalf of someone else — you were dealing for someone else.

“While it is at the lower end [for the most serious offences of dealing drugs with a street value exceeding €13,000], you were assisting the sale or supply of drugs in Cork city,” she said.

“You had an addiction to cannabis and gambling at the time. You saved the State the time and expense of a trial. You present now as a person who is clean and sober and no longer gambling.

“You have returned to work. You have not come to adverse garda attention since this was detected.

“I am satisfied there are exceptional circumstances [to allow for a departure from a minimum 10-year sentence]. You have completed your recovery from addiction. But you will have to follow this up for the rest of your days in relation to gambling and cannabis addictions.”

In all the circumstances, the judge said that a sentence of three-years suspended was appropriate.