Drug dealer who admitted smuggling cannabis resin from Spain to sell here set for sentencing

A CORK drug dealer who pleaded guilty to supplying drugs yesterday admitted flying cannabis resin in from Malaga for sale in Cork city.

Gardaí caught John Heaphy, aged 50, of 59 Kerryhall Road, Cork, with the illegal drugs in a car at Innishannon Road, Fairhill, Cork.

Superintendent Michael O’Loughlin said yesterday that but for the intervention of Gardaí Donal O’Sullivan and Aileen McCarthy the drugs would have ended up on the local market.

In a statement to the gardaí, Heaphy admitted that he flew to Malaga in southern Spain where he bought the cannabis resin.

He got a flight back to Dublin and drove on to Cork with the drugs. The gardaí caught him at 5pm on Sunday, February 17.

The drugs were in a blue Opel Vectra and Heaphy accepted responsibility for them.

The drugs had a street value of E6,500, according to Supt O’Loughlin. Heaphy was arraigned yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the charge of having the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to others and he admitted the offence.

Judge Sean O’Donnabhain heard the prosecution evidence and agreed to adjourn sentencing until Friday, on an application from the defence.

Heaphy was remanded in custody until then.