Music fan caught checking on cannabis in car

A young music fan on his way to the Indiependence festival in Mitchelstown stopped on the road to check the cannabis herb in the boot of the car and to sniff it before putting it into another bag, but he did not realise he was literally under the nose of a garda.

Conor Quirke, of 61 The Rise, Bishopstown, Cork, was never in trouble but his choice of a place to stop on the Cork-Mitchelstown road last Summer brought him before Cork District Court yesterday.

Mr Quirke, 22, pulled in and checked the €250 bag of cannabis directly beside a Gatso van. Inside the roadside van at that moment was Garda Brian Gubbins, checking the speed of passing cars.

Inspector Joe O’Connor said what Garda Gubbins saw instead of speeding cars was this car stopping, the driver opening the boot, removing what turned out to be a bag of cannabis and sniffing the contents. Garda Gubbins then stepped out of the Gatso van.

Mr Quirke, who was on his way to the festival, was asked after caution if he would share the cannabis with friends if they asked. He replied that he would and up being charged with having cannabis for sale or supply on the basis of the quantity seized and this admission.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the student was anxious to avoid a conviction, as he was planning to go to Australia.

Judge Tim Lucey said to Mr Burke: “Forget the ‘going to Australia’. I have heard that a million times. But they [young people] do have to get employment here and it is a serious matter to have on your record. But it is the State, the gardaí, who are prosecuting them.

“The flexibility seems to have gone out of the system. The poor box [making a donation instead of getting a conviction] seems to be frowned upon. Members of the public don’t seem to like that flexibility in the system.”

The judge said he would put the matter back for a probation report in two months. He said that, strictly speaking, Mr Quirke was not yet convicted and he would look at the matter of penalty in light of the probation report.

The judge dismissed a charge of simple possession in the case against a young man who was in the car at the time.