Man who confessed to drug dealing in Cork had a stroke while awaiting sentencing

A man who confessed to dealing drugs in Cork city suffered a stroke while awaiting sentencing.

The case had been adjourned last year for sentencing but had returned to Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Judge Dermot Sheehan was told Bart Grabowski, aged 42, had suffered a stroke in the meantime.

While he was at risk of a 10-year minimum sentence, he was given a fully suspended four-year term.

Detective Garda Ruairí McGovern said the case had been adjourned for a probation report on the accused in May 2025.

“He had health difficulties in between times — he had a stroke. He has not come to garda attention since. He was caught with drugs in July 2023,” the detective said.

Asked if the gardaí had any concerns about the defendant for the future, Det Garda McGovern said they did not. 

Background

He reminded Judge Sheehan of the background.

Grabowski was caught with more than €17,000 worth of cannabis and more than €4,000 worth of amphetamines at his home at Seminary Rd, Blackpool, Cork.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said: “He was heavily addicted to speed and spent a number of months at Tabor Lodge and is clean of drugs for the last four months. Unfortunately, he came out of Tabor Lodge and suffered a stroke. He has been told now that he must stay off drugs — otherwise he will die. He is 122 days clean now. He is living with his dog, living a reclusive life.”

The most serious charge to which Grabowski pleaded guilty was one of having cannabis and amphetamines for sale or supply to others at a time when their combined value exceeded €13,000. 

That charge can carry a minimum 10-year sentence.

Co-operated 

Judge Sheehan noted the drugs were found following a search under warrant of his home and that Grabowski co-operated by showing gardaí where they were.

Also found were packages for deals and a weighing scales. Messages on his phone indicated he was selling €50 deal bags. He was addicted to amphetamines at the time.

The judge said: “He is a Polish national living in Ireland for many years. He lost his job in a hospital and had no previous convictions.

“The court of appeal has indicated that it is possible in exceptional circumstances to deal with matters such as this on a non-custodial basis. 

"I assess the headline sentence at six years. Having regard to his signed plea, I will reduce it to four years. In the totally exceptional circumstances of this case, I will suspend the sentence in its entirety.”