Man (21) charged with having €12k worth of cocaine applies to have case struck out over delays

A man accused of having €12,000 worth of cocaine on St Patrick’s Day applied to have his case struck out because of delay.

Pedro De Oliveira of Eagle Valley, Wilton, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison and made the application for his case to be struck out.

The 21-year-old had no legal representation because of the solicitors’ strike over changes to free legal aid payments.

Sergeant Gearóíd Davis told Judge David Waters that directions were not yet available from the DPP.

He told Judge Waters that the alleged value of drugs seized was €12,000 and that cash and weighing scales were also found.

Judge Waters said he was not striking it out at this stage, but that the defendant could make the same application in the future.

The defendant was remanded in custody until July 22.

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

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.