No complaints about alleged drug taking at Apple lodged with gardaí

Gardaí have not received an official complaint from Apple management about drug taking at its European headquarters in Cork City.

The company would not comment further on a newspaper report yesterday that it had employed a private security company to check for drugs traces at workspaces in its factory in Hollyhill, on the city’s northside.

It was reported that the private security firm used a sniffer dog to check out the facility where more than 3,000 people are employed.

The report said around 14 desktops showed traces of cocaine and cannabis.

The operation was said to have taken place at night, when staff had gone home.

Apple was asked by the Irish Examiner yesterday if it had dismissed or disciplined any workers in relation to the alleged find, or if it had carried out similar operations in the past and fired workers for drug use.

Apple was also asked if it had contacted gardaí after carrying out the drug tests. A company spokesman refused to answer any of those questions, but did issue a statement.

“Whilst we will not comment on the specific story, we will say officially that we have a zero tolerance toward drug use and possession.”

Garda sources confirmed yesterday that they had not received any complaint from Apple and were not carrying out an investigation.

It had been reported that some senior Apple management — including CEO Tim Cook — had heard rumours about drug taking at the Hollyhill factory and this prompted them to bring in the private security firm.