Dog used to fend off garda drug search

A German shepherd was used to fend off a Garda drugs search by a man who chewed up and swallowed a large quantity of cannabis grass in a Citroen Berlingo.

The culprit was jailed for four months yesterday for obstruction of a drugs search.

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed that jail term on Stephen McCarthy, aged 35, at Farnahoe, Innishannon, Co Cork.

McCarthy was the frontseat passenger in the car which was driven away by another party in the Togher area on June 9. Shortly after 9pm on that date, the car came to a stop and Garda John Deasy approached the passenger side.

Garda Deasy testified at Cork District Court yesterday that he saw the accused take up a large quantity of cannabis weed and put it in his mouth.

“He kept chewing the cannabis and ingesting it,” said Garda Deasy. “I attempted to stop him and as I leaned into the car, he leaned over to the driver’s side. There was a German shepherd loose in the car. Mr McCarthy put the German shepherd between me and him.”

The accused got out of the Berlingo. Garda Deasy managed to keep the dog in the car as he was dealing with McCarthy.

Garda Deasy said his opinion was that the quantity of cannabis swallowed by the accused was large. McCarthy was arrested and taken to Togher Garda Station. His condition deteriorated following his arrest. This was believed to have resulted from the ingestion of the cannabis. A doctor had to be called to the station for the treatment of the accused.

Cash of €450 was also confiscated from the defendant. Garda Deasy was of the opinion that the money represented the proceeds of selling illegal drugs.

The accused had 34 previous convictions including counts for drug possession. He also got a two-year jail term for crimes including assault causing harm.

Defence solicitor Emmet Boyle suggested it might have shown a greater degree of criminality if the accused had thrown the drugs out the window of the car as the driver drove away from gardaí but he had not done so.

“His life has been put at significant harm as a result of his drug abuse,” said Mr Boyle. “When he was serving a sentence his cellmate died in tragic circumstances. That has left a significant imprint on him.”

The solicitor said the accused had made enquiries about getting on a drug rehabilitation programme.