Man faces drug-dealing charge after gardaí seize cocaine in Bantry

A man has appeared in court in connection with a major drugs seizure following a search operation carried out in Bantry, Co. Cork.

Giving evidence of arrest charge and caution, Detective Andrew Manning told Macroom District Court that he arrested Ronan O’Sullivan, aged 45, of 4 Slip Heights, Bantry, Co. Cork, at Bandon Garda Station on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Court presenter Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan said O’Sullivan was charged with one count of possession of illegal drugs contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and one count of possession of illegal drugs for sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the same act. O’Sullivan made no reply when the charges were put to him.

Detective Garda Manning said gardaí were not objecting to bail being granted subject to certain conditions. 

Judge Joanne Carroll said bail would be subject to the conditions that O’Sullivan lived at his home address; signed on every Monday and Friday at Bantry Garda Station between 9am and 8pm and that he provided a mobile phone number on which he could be contacted at all times.

The conditions also instructed him to surrender his passport and European travel card; that he does not leave or make plans to leave the jurisdiction; that he does not associate with known drug users or dealers and that he observes a curfew from 10pm to 6am.

O’Sullivan was remanded on bail to appear again at Bantry District Court on March 12, 2026, on his own bond of €300. Legal aid was granted to defence solicitor, Flor Murphy, who told the court that his client was currently not working and had provided a statement of means.

O’Sullivan was arrested along with another man when gardaí carried out searches under warrant at a number of locations in Bantry, Co. Cork, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Gardaí from Cork County Divisional Drugs Unit assisted by members from the local crime unit carried out the operation seizing suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €12,000, a small quantity of cannabis along, nearly €5,000 in cash and drug-related paraphernalia.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.