Major player on drugs scene in North Cork is jailed

Olivia Kelleher

A “major player” on the drugs scene in North Cork who continued to deal drugs even after he was caught with €44,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis at his home has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Christopher Lane (32) of Dromscarra, Kiskeam, Co Cork, told gardaí that he was relieved to be caught as he needed to face up to his addiction issues.

During his Garda interviews, he stated that he had a drugs debt of €50,000. He was found to be in possession of drugs for sale and supply on three occasions.

Detective Garda David Barrett said that the largest drugs seizure occurred on November 11th, 2022, at the former home of Mr Lane in Curracraigue, Banteer, Co Cork.

The property was searched by the drugs unit on foot of a warrant. On that occasion, they found Mr Lane sitting at the table in the kitchen organising packages of cannabis for the purpose of sale and supply.

Gardaí seized cannabis herb with a street value of €28,000, €13,000 of cannabis resin, cocaine to the value of close to €3,000 and over €3,000 worth of cash.

Officers also noted the presence of drugs paraphernalia, including weighing scales, bags and a phone which was found to contain texts about drug dealing.

Mr Lane was arrested for the second time on June 16th, 2023, in the same property in Banteer after he was caught with a smaller amount of drugs for sale and supply.

Over €7000 in cash was also recovered. He was on bail when this offence occurred.

Mr Lane was arrested for a third time on January 30th last at his home in Kiskeam. Cocaine and cannabis were again recovered. He was on High Court bail at the time of this offence.

Defence counsel Jane Hyland, SC, said that Mr Lane has always engaged well with the probation service. She stressed that he never sought to minimise his actions and admitted that he felt powerless in the face of his addiction.

Ms Hyland said that the loved ones of Mr Lane had been concerned about the extent of his addiction.

She added that her client was ashamed of his actions.

Judge Helen Boyle said that Mr Lane was a significant figure in the drugs trade in North Cork.

“You were a major player on the drugs scene in North Cork, also supplying it to drug dealers, so you were involved in the wholesale as well as supplying to drug users.

"You were engaged at a relatively high level, supplying drugs in North Cork and beyond. Unfortunately, despite your first arrest, you continued to deal drugs.”

Judge Boyle noted the presence of signed guilty pleas, which she said saved the State the cost of a trial. She also said that she was cognisant of the addiction issues faced by the accused.

Judge Boyle told Mr Lane that Ms Hyland had made her aware of his work in the construction industry.

“You are capable of earning a living in a legitimate way. You are regretful.”

She opted to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years' jailing Mr Lane for eight and a half years before suspending the final year of the sentence.

The sentence was backdated to February of this year when the accused first entered custody. Mr Lane was without previous drug convictions.