Cork dog breeder caught with €67k of cannabis at his home jailed

A dog breeder, who bred and exported Jack Russell terriers, was caught with bags of cannabis inside and outside his house with a value of more than €67,000.

Richard O’Callaghan, aged 33, of 33 Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork, was charged with counts under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The most serious of which referred to cannabis worth more than €13,000, the threshold figure which allows for a minimum jail term of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The charges relate to September 2024 at the defendant’s home. Since then, he pleaded guilty to the charges against him. 

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of four years and eight months, with the last one year and eight months suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge said: “An aggravating factor is that he has a previous conviction for drug-dealing at Cork District Court. [In the present case] you engaged with a supplier to provide for your own use of cannabis and to make some more money.

“I am satisfied you had a longstanding addiction to cannabis. It has caused significant difficulties in your life, causing you to go into custody. Selling and distributing to other people also has consequences for other people,” Judge Boyle said.

In mitigation, the judge noted the defendant took full responsibility for the drugs, had potential to work in honest employment, and had a pro-social and supportive family.

Detective Garda Michael Abernethy testified there was a search at the defendant’s home under warrant on September 15, 2024.

“During the search in the shed a Tesco shopping bag with cannabis was found. In the hall under the stairs, another bag was found. And in the kitchen, another bag was found,” the detective said. The total value of the drugs was more than €67,400.

When he was interviewed, he said he had the 3kg to share with some friends and to smoke himself between September and December that year.

However, his phone was analysed and detectives were satisfied the messages contained on the phone showed drug-dealing was taking place.

Tom Creed, senior counsel, said the accused was mainly storing the drugs for another unnamed person.