Cork man offering free drug samples handed sentence

A 59-year-old man who was caught with €6,000 worth of cannabis was testing the quality of the product by offering free samples to would-be customers, and now he has been given a fully-suspended sentence.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that gardaí obtained a warrant to search the home of Gerard O’Leary at 51 Shannon Lawn, Mayfield.

Officers arrived at this house at 8.30pm on February 2, 2023, and the accused was present.

A kilo of cannabis resin was found, with a street value of €6,000, together with a weighing scales, and he was arrested at the scene.

“Interviewed in relation to this he made full admissions of his intention to sell the cannabis by word-of-mouth,” Det Sgt O’Sullivan said.

The detective said Gerard O’Leary’s previous convictions included one from 2014 for having €5,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. On that occasion he was given a two-year suspended sentence.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley said the defendant had no more convictions since this was detected in February 2023.

Ms Audley said: “He was fully co-operative. He told gardaí he had purchased it for €4,000 and had given samples to people to test the quality and later hoping to sell it on for profit. But no money had changed hands at this point, he had not begun selling.”

Det Sgt O’Sullivan repeated that gardaí had certain information before they could obtain the warrant. Ms Audley said: “He is 59 now. He no longer smokes cannabis because of his ill-health. Maybe quite belatedly he has learned his lesson.”

Judge Sinead Behan said: “What is a concern is that some 11 years ago he was before the court for a similar amount and similar charges.

“But he is not the usual profile of a man using drugs.”

Judge Behan imposed a sentence of two and a half years, which was suspended.