Cork man who pleaded guilty to drug charges given suspended sentence 

Gardaí operating a routine checkpoint saw a car stop short of it, and the driver walk away with a Lidl shopping bag, and when they became suspicious about his actions they followed him and found that the bag contained more than €39,000 worth of cannabis.

Garda Ann Roche described this incident at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Robert O’Rourke of Cathedral Ave, Shandon, Cork, faced sentencing.

He entered signed pleas at Cork District Court, and affirmed them at the Circuit Criminal Court.

The most serious charge to which the 46-year-old pleaded guilty was one of having drugs for sale or supply at Cathedral St, on April 2, 2023, at a time when its street value exceeded €13,000. 

This charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Garda Roche testified that a routine traffic checkpoint was in place on the day, and officers on duty there saw the defendant pulling in and parking. He then got out and walked away, carrying the shopping bag.

When questioned after the stash of drugs were found, he said he had a drugs debt and was transporting the package of drugs in order to clear some of that debt.

Senior Counsel, Jane Hyland, said of the accused: “He is terrified of a custodial sentence.”

Judge Dermot Sheehan noted from the evidence, including background reports on the accused: “He has reformed himself completely and he has no previous convictions.

“He is no longer addicted to drugs. He is in full-time employment. This can be regarded as a one-off event in his life.”

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