Plumber on drug charge gets bail

A TRAINEE plumber from Rochestown, Cork, pleaded guilty yesterday to having over €500,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply in Cork last May.

Russell McAdoo, aged 22, from Provence, Rochestown Road, Cork, was arraigned on the opening day of the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four counts on the indictment against them.

It is alleged that the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad caught him with 55kg of cannabis grass on May 2, the total street value of the drugs being €550,000. McAdoo admitted possessing cannabis grass for sale or supply and possessing the illegal drug where it had a street value greater than €13,000 for sale or supply at both Maple Court, Mount Oval Estate, Rochestown, and at 19 Maple Court, Mount Oval Estate, Rochestown.

€13,000 is the threshold value for the mandatory sentencing of up to life imprisonment or a minimum of 10 years on conviction, unless a judge finds there are exceptional circumstances that enable him to depart from the provisions.

John Phelan senior counsel asked for sentencing to be adjourned until after March 2009 on the basis that McAdoo was at what Mr Phelan described as a crucial period in his training as a plumber.

There was no state objection to the accused being remanded on continuing bail for that purpose.

Judge Patrick J Moran adjourned sentencing for six months and remanded McAdoo on continuing bail until April 22, 2009. Details of the offences will be given in evidence on that date.

Two lodgements of €15,000 were previously made for McAdoo.