Gardaí found cannabis stash in bag after Cork man set off fireworks

A “well oiled” Cork man’s stash of €15,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis which he carried in a rucksack was discovered by gardaí after he attracted their attention by setting off fireworks at Halloween.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick Tobin, aged 41, has been given a five-year suspended jail term by Judge Helen Boyle.

When gardaí approached him for setting off fireworks, he fled the scene leaving his rucksack behind and this was later found to contain €15,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis.

Patrick Tobin of 179 Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, was sentenced for having cocaine worth more than €10,000 and €5,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply in that rucksack.

“It was Halloween night and he attracted attention to himself by setting off fireworks, which were illegal,” defence senior counsel Donal O’Sullivan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the last occasion. “He was well oiled, and he tried to get away by climbing over a wall. He had a chaotic-type life.”

Garda Peter Moran testified that on October 31, 2022, his attention was drawn to the actions of the accused man at Russell Heights in Cobh, Co Cork.

“He was acting suspiciously,” Garda Moran said. “He was setting off fireworks and trying to hide behind an ESB transformer box.

“He then fled from the scene. I inspected the rucksack he left behind. He fled; climbed over a wall to make good his escape.”

Arrested

Patrick Tobin did not get far before he was arrested and taken to Cobh Garda Station.

As well as drugs worth more than €15,000 in the bag there was a cocaine mixing agent as well and €2,100 in cash, which the defendant later accepted was the proceeds of his drug-related activities.

He claimed that he was dealing drugs, but only holding on to the larger stash for an unnamed third party.

A concurrent two-year suspended sentence was imposed on him on the money-laundering charge.

Garda Moran accepted that the accused was co-operative and freely admitted that he had a long-term addiction to substances that got him involved in these crimes.

Ray Boland, senior counsel for the accused man at the sentencing, said: “This is one of those happier occasions where he completed the residential programme in Coolmine. It was adjourned to give him an opportunity to address his difficulties.

“He has taken the chance given to him by the court.

“He now plans to get into the area of social work. He is starting in Churchfield Community Trust. He presents as motivated and committed.

“He has a long history of addiction. He is in early stages of recovery.

“He would like the support of the Probation Service and Coolmine.”

Previous

Judge Helen Boyle noted that the defendant had previous convictions for drug dealing, the most recent dating back to 2016.

“You were actively involved in storing drugs for sale or supply,” she said. “You know the damage that cocaine and cannabis does to people. You understand the damage that being involved in the drugs trade brings.

“Mitigating factors include your signed plea of guilty, saving the State the time and expense of a trial.

“You have your own issues with addiction. Your risk category remains high.

“That is because of your previous convictions. You present as motivated and committed, and eager to progress your life.

“You have taken the opportunity to engage with the addiction services. You have done what was asked of you.

“You want to get your life back on track… I will suspend the sentence in its entirety,” the judge said.