'I'm no Pablo Escobar,' says Cork farmer described as 'no Robin Hood either' for growing cannabis

A naïve bachelor farmer growing cannabis in remote woodlands around Ballingeary said he was no Pablo Escobar, but a local detective said he was no Robin Hood either.

Before Judge Sinead Behan could characterise 53-year-old Daniel Kelleher of Kilmore, Ballingeary, County Cork, the judge had to look into the issue of the accused man also having a revolver and an air rifle discovered during the garda investigation.

Defence barrister Ben Shorten generated some laughter in Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday when he remarked that many houses in West Cork may have old firearms left over from the War of Independence. While Det. Garda Ryan did not comment on that specifically, he confirmed that gardaí did not believe the revolver and the air rifle had anything to do with the cannabis-growing.

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan said Daniel Kelleher seemed to have a naïve sense of pride in his success at growing cannabis plants to maturity — some of them reaching eight-foot high — in remote woodlands at Lyrenageeha, Ballingeary, County Cork, in September 2023.

Several searches were carried out and they uncovered 53 mature cannabis plants with a potential street value of €42,400 at one location, 42 plants worth €33,600 in another and 46 plants worth €36,800 in a third. 

The remote areas of cleared woodland were only accessible by foot. Also packages of cannabis herb with a value of €6,700 were found stashed around his home property.

The detective said Daniel Kelleher was proud of himself being able to grow cannabis plants so successfully.

Det. Garda Ryan did acknowledge in respect of the accused man’s views since September 2023: “He has in the last few years seen the light, that it was not the right thing to be doing.” 

Going back to the period when he was cultivating cannabis, the detective agreed with Mr Shorten that the accused appeared to be influenced by people with an alternative lifestyle in the area.

Mr Shorten said: “He had misplaced pride in his horticultural skills. He was taken advantage of by people with a more cavalier view of cannabis… He was supplying others but not for financial reward.” 

Sentencing

Judge Behan agreed with the view that there was naivety but she said people should realise that providing drugs, even without payment, is still committing the offence of supplying drugs.

The judge imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence on the accused in relation to charges of having cannabis for sale or supply, and cultivation of cannabis.

The total street value of drugs discovered in the investigation amounted to €119,609. Daniel Kelleher had no relevant previous convictions.