Seven years for possession of over €760k in cannabis

A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of drugs with a street value of over €760,000.

Edward McCormack, aged 62, of 20 Bishops Park, Wexford, pleaded guilty before Judge Barry Hickson at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to having cannabis resin for sale or supply on November 15, 2011, at Ballymurn, Enniscorthy .

He also pleaded guilty to the same offence at The Ballagh, Enniscorthy, on November 6, 2013.

Det Garda Paul Hayes told Conor O’Doherty, prosecuting, a van was outside the Anvil Pub in Ballymurn overnight. On the following morning, the defendant was dropped off by son-in-law Enda Fortune, a co-accused and has already been dealt with by the court.

When the van was searched, a large quantity of cannabis was found inside. The defendant admitted what was inside, stating it was “weed”. He was arrested and brought to Enniscorthy Garda Station where he was interviewed. During five interviews, he admitted that he had a gambling debt.

Gardaí also attended a second location at The Ballagh where a large number of barrels containing cannabis resin were located.

“This can only be described as a major drugs seizure,” said the judge.

He sentenced the defendant to seven years on each offence, to run consecutively, backdated to August 29. He was ordered to avail of addiction services while in prison.