Accused leased shipping container in Cork to store €63k worth of cannabis and cocaine

32-year-old sentenced to three years in  jail, with final six months suspended

The accused had a drug debt of €10,000 at the time of the offence.

Around €63,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine was found in a shipping container at Centre Park Road in Cork — leased in a false name by a man trying to put distance between himself and the stash.

The 32-year-old man has now been sentenced to three years imprisonment with the last six months suspended by Judge Catherine Staines.

Roy O’Herlihy, of 32A Sober Lane, Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, appeared at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he confessed to money- laundering and drug dealing.

He pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply at New Park, Centre Park Road, Cork, on June 9, 2021.

He also admitted having €2,310 in cash — the proceeds of crime — on the same occasion.

A container on Centre Park Road was the focus of the Garda search on the occasion.

Detective Garda Patrick O’Sullivan said: “Gardaí went to the container and found Roy O’Herlihy and another person were on the premises. A large quantity of cannabis was found in a cabinet within the container.

“When interviewed, he did answer but tried to distance himself from the drugs. He was on the whole uncooperative.”

However, the lease for the container had a contact phone number, which belonged to the defendant.

When he leased the container, he said it would be used for dismantled car parts. But when it was searched the only things in the container were a single bumper and the cabinet containing the drugs.

Drug debt

He later told gardaí he had a €10,000 drug debt at the time. The drugs found in the cabinet consisted of over €58,500 cannabis and €4,600 cocaine.

The defendant had addresses at Sober Lane and Bakers Road at the time of the crime.

Det Garda O’Sullivan said: “I would say this was an operation he had organised, signed up under a false name for the leasing of a container to avoid detection.”

Defence barrister, Emmet Boyle, said the accused worked for most of his adult life but became homeless for a lengthy period of time.

“He wants to do addiction studies so that he can help others. He wants to divert others from the situation in which he, unfortunately, finds himself,” Mr Boyle said.

Judge Staines noted that the total value of drugs amounted to over €63,000.

“Det Garda O’Sullivan confirms you (the accused) have no trappings of wealth. But this was organised. You were quite seriously involved to that extent. You do have previous for possession of drugs.

"You were an addict and owed a large drug debt. You attended a drug addiction course in prison. You completed a course in psychology and trauma seminars. You have a good work history,” Judge Staines said.

A sentence of three years was imposed with the last six months suspended and the sentence was backdated to February 1 when he went into custody.

A money-laundering offence in relation to €2,310 cash found in his possession was taken into consideration by the judge.