Heroin dealer sentenced to 6 months for drug driving

A heroin dealer who was jailed this month for a stash concealed in a teddy bear got another sentence for a drug driving crime yesterday .

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed a six-month jail term on John Murray and banned him from driving for six years at Cork District Court. Murray, aged 33, pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of cannabis, dangerous driving, and related charges.

Det Garda Geraldine Daly and Garda Martin MacSweeney were on duty at Kilmore Rd, Knocknaheeny, Cork, when they saw the Renault car on the wrong side of the road driving directly at the unmarked Garda car.

“He swerved to avoid us and drove straight on at speed. I turned the patrol car and followed,” said Det Garda Daly. “He had a very very near miss with a Nissan Qashqai jeep... I activated the blue lights and sirens and followed.”

The Renault struck a kerb at Tadgh Barry Rd and the left front tyre burst. When Murray ran from the car Det Garda MacSweeney chased him. Murray stumbled in a field, fell, and was arrested.

Murray said he had taken four DF118 tablets. On analysis, cannabis was found in his urine. He had 101 previous convictions including one this month for dealing heroin for which he got two and a half years. Yesterday’s six-month sentence will run concurrently with that.