Cork man who admits cocaine dealing had built up drug debt with well-known family, court told

A young man who pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale our supply had built up a drug debt to a well-known family in West Cork, the district court has heard.

Court presenter, Sergeant Tom Mulcahy, told Clonakilty District Court that a warrant was obtained to search a property at O’Mahony Avenue, Bandon, on February 8, 2024. During the search cocaine, cannabis, mixing agent, deal bags and €165 in cash were found in an upstairs bedroom.

On February 20, 2024, Stephen Looney Webb, aged 25 of Castledon Court, Bandon, presented at Bandon Garda Station and claimed ownership of the drugs. Looney Webb said he had stayed at the house and gone to the pub with friends who lived at the address and had left the drugs in the bedroom. 

The court heard that the cocaine was valued at €800 and the cannabis at €200. The court heard that Looney Webb was fully co-operative and had 11 previous convictions, including nine for public order offences, but had no previous drug-related convictions.

Defence solicitor, Éamonn Fleming, said Looney Webb had built up a drug debt “with these people” and he believed there was “a certain amount of coercion” involved. 

Mr Fleming said one of the other people at the house where the search took place was a member of family “with a long history of drug dealing in West Cork” and he believed the individual had now left the jurisdiction.

Mr Fleming said that Looney Webb "could not wait” to enter addiction treatment and he would hope he has turned a corner. The court heard that Looney Webb had already spent 15 weeks in prison due to another matter and was currently on High Court bail with strict conditions, including daily signing on and a curfew.

Judge Joanne Carroll said a conviction for drug dealing would have a major impact on Looney Webb for the rest of his life, limiting his employment prospects and ability to travel overseas. She asked the Probation Service to prepare a probation report and remanded Looney Webb on continuing bail to December 2 to allow time for the completion of the report.