Heroin worth €1k hidden in teddy bear
Detective Garda Liam Finn was giving evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court at a sentencing hearing for John Murray, who is aged around 30.
Murray was living at 80 Pearse Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, at the time the offence was detected on August 18, 2014.
Det Garda Finn told Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that gardaí received information that Murray was involved in drug dealing.
They obtained a search warrant based on that confidential information and went to the house where they commenced a search.
Another person was walking out of the house when the officers arrived.
Murray was inside and attempted to swallow a piece of heroin.
This was retrieved at the scene and found to weigh 1.6 grammes.
“Ten grammes of heroin were found in a teddy bear out in the back garden,” Det Garda Finn said.
Murray was arrested and admitted being involved in the sale or supply of heroin.
Peter O’Flynn, defence barrister, said the accused was about to go to Arbour House having been at Heron House for treatment.
Det Garda Finn said that Murray had previous convictions for drug dealing and he was sceptical about the efforts by the accused to rehabilitate.
The judge said he would remand Murray in custody for a week to see if the addiction counsellor in prison could advance his prospects of getting treatment as it was agreed by all sides that he needed treatment.
Mr O’Flynn said the accused wanted to pursue rehabilitation while out on bail.
Judge Ó Donnabháin said he was taking it out of Murray’s hands and said the accused had almost two years to put it in order and had not yet done so.
