Man jailed after €2,000 cannabis find at Cork bus station

A Dungarvan man who ducked into the bus station at Parnell Place in Cork as soon as he saw gardaí approaching has been jailed for a year for having vacuum-packed cannabis worth over €2,000 in his possession.

Darren Cummins, aged 31, of Kilongford, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was sentenced to two years, with the last year suspended, by Judge Dermot Sheehan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Patrick Houlihan outlined the background to the incident that occurred on April 26, 2023, at Parnell Place. Gardaí were responding to a report of a public order incident when the drugs offence was detected.

“Gardaí saw him turn and run into the station and then exit through a side entrance,” said Garda Houlihan.

“They approached him and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from him. He was found with a carrier bag containing vacuum-packed cannabis in 25 zip-lock pouches.

“He was conveyed to Bridewell Garda Station, and during interview he made admissions to the sale or supply of drugs.”

The street value of the drugs amounted to just over €2,000. An aggravating factor in the case was his previous drug convictions. Cummins had eight convictions for having drugs for his own use. He also had two convictions for drug dealing.

He admitted the charge of having cannabis for sale or supply, again arising out of the circumstances at the bus station on Parnell Place.