Carpenter caught with cocaine jailed for eight years

Carpenter Michael Leahy of Coolcrean Park, Killarney, Co Kerry, was today jailed for eight years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the charge of having cocaine for sale or supply to others on August 4, 2005.

Drugs squad gardaí believed they had smashed a major cocaine-dealing operation in the south when they uncovered a professionally-concealed stash of the drug in a van bound for Cork.

Detective Inspector Tom Myers said the van was intercepted at Ovens near Ballincollig, Co Cork, and taken to Gurranabraher garda station for a search. It took three specially-trained gardai 90 minutes of searching to find the container stuffed with €280,000 worth of cocaine.

Leahy was described as a man who was previously of good character, earning a good wage, living with his partner and not burdened with a drink or drugs problem.

Det. Insp. Myers said the defendant was involved in the crime purely for the purpose of making money.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said the fact that that the accused was not a man who resorted to dealing drugs in desperation and in an effort to feed a habit was undoubtedly an aggravating factor in this case.

“You did this in the cold light of day for money,” the judge said. “Let’s call a spade a spade, someone else is not going to work because of using cocaine.

“You were getting profit out of it . The whole trade is reprehensible and you were knowingly involved in it.

If street value of seized cocaine is €13,000 or more, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life imprisonment is usually handed down, although a lower sentence can be imposed if the judge sees fit.