Cocaine ‘God’s way of saying you have too much money’

A judge yesterday quoted a British rock star as he imposed five-and-a-half-year suspended jail sentences on two men caught with €35,000 at Blackpool shopping centre in Cork.

Judge David Riordan told Edward Collins, 22, of 70 Harbour View Rd, Knocknaheeny, Cork, and Jason Mallon, 26, of 12 Sycamore House, Drumgeely, Shannon, Co Clare, that “cocaine is God’s way of telling you you’ve got too much money”. The men pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on June 5 last year.

The drugs exceeded the value of €13,000 which carries the risk of a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 10 years. The accused faced such sentences unless the judge accepted there were exceptional circumstances.