Directions from Director of Public Prosecutions awaited in Cork drugs case  

A man was remanded in custody until July 7 on a charge of Patrick’s Day cocaine dealing in Cork city centre.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis made the application to have Pedro De Oliveira of Eagle Valley, Wilton, Cork, remanded in custody until then to allow time for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. 

He said the certificate of forensic analysis of the suspected drugs had not yet been received.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said: “My request — because of ongoing national delays in advancing DPP directions because of forensic analysis delays — is to have it made peremptory against the State on the next occasion.”

Judge Miriam Walsh said she would not have acceded to a peremptory adjournment of the case if the accused was only agreeing to a two-week remand in custody.

However, she said that because he was consenting to the four-week remand in custody, she would make it peremptory against the State.

“I think that is reasonable,” the judge said.

Pedro De Oliveira is charged that on at 2.30pm on March 17 at Grand Parade, Cork, and later at his home in Wilton, he had cocaine at both locations for the purpose of sale or supply.

A Portuguese interpreter translated evidence from the brief hearing at Cork District Court and the accused man appeared by video link from prison. 

The effect of the peremptory adjournment is that the case will be struck out if DPP directions are not given by July 7.

However, in such circumstances, it is open to the State to bring the same charges again at a later date.