Man had €1,000 of heroin in his pants

A Lithuanian caught with €1,000 worth of heroin in his pants in Glanmire claimed he was in Cork as a tourist and fell into bad company.

That was the claim made on behalf of the accused at his sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday but the prosecuting garda suggested he was more heavily involved in the drugs crime.

Garda Lorna Healy said the accused was caught after a surveillance operation of a Lithuanian gang involved in drug-dealing in Cork.

Garda Healy said the accused was in the country for less than two weeks when the drugs seizure was made.

“He was the main supplier to street dealers in the city,” said Garda Healy.

While Ramunas Gineitis, aged 34, of no fixed address did not co-operate with the gardaí other than to say he had the drug for his own use, later he pleaded guilty to a charge of having diamorphine, or heroin, for sale or supply on August 11 at John O’Callaghan Park, Riverstown, Glanmire, Co Cork.

Gardaí went to John O’Callaghan Park and saw Gineitis arrive, pick up something, and leave moments later. When he was arrested the heroin was found in the waistband of his pants at 8.20am that morning.

Paula McCarthy, defending, said the defendant was based in London and came to Ireland following the death of his mother in Lithuania.

“This was a one-off. He was looking for work. He fell into this,” Ms McCarthy BL said. Garda Healy disagreed with that description.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to three years with the last 18 months suspended.