Prisoner had drugs in his mouth at courthouse

A man in custody at Cork District Courthouse was seen putting cannabis into his mouth after his girlfriend passed him the drug as he was being escorted through a corridor.

Insp Pat Meaney said yesterday that there had been a brief scuffle when the man refused to be searched in relation to the matter, during which time the piece of cannabis fell out of his mouth. When the woman was arrested she denied all knowledge of it and suggested gardaí must have been mistaken.

That occurred at the courthouse on Anglesea St, Cork, on Mar 7, 2012, and at that courthouse yesterday, Anthony Rutherford, aged 41, and Nicola Nolan, aged 33, both with addresses at Mourne Avenue, Dillon’s Cross, Cork, pleaded guilty. Rutherford pleaded guilty to having the drug for his own use. Nolan admitted possession and possessing it for the purpose of supply.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said Rutherford had “prevailed” on Nolan to do what she did and she “ill advisedly did it”.

Judge Olann Kelleher fined her €200 for possessing the drug and gave a four-month suspended sentence for supplying it.

The judge fined Rutherford €250 for possession.