Cork man caught with cocaine worth €12,000 avoids going to jail

Gardaí went to the man's home at St Oliver Plunkett Place, Doneraile, County Cork, and found cocaine and cash.

A Doneraile man caught with €12,000 worth of cocaine at his home and €12,500 in cash in 2019 has avoided jail following lengthy cooperation with the probation service.

Judge Helen Boyle said that Finbarr Jewitt’s initial risk of reoffending which was high when he first interacted with the probation service went to moderate and could reduce further. The judge imposed a prison sentence of three and a half years which was suspended on condition that he would keep the peace and have no further offences in the next three years.

Alice Fawsitt, defending, submitted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that “freeing himself from the shackles of drug addiction was the best thing he had ever done”.

As well as the extensive cooperation with the probation service Judge Boyle noted that the 45-year-old had not come to the adverse attention of gardaí since the cocaine and cash were seized at his home on November 22, 2019.

Gardaí went to his home at St Oliver Plunkett Place, Doneraile, Co Cork, on that date and found the stashes of drugs and cash.

Garda Liam Hosford testified previously that gardaí were investigating the sale or supply of drugs in the Doneraile area and they obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s home..

“During the search, gardaí discovered €12,000 worth of cocaine in a bedroom. It was in the pocket of a jacket. Also found was a digital weighing scale and a large number of small plastic drug dealing bags,” Garda Hosford said, adding that there was also a seizure of €12,500 in cash.

Ms Fawsitt said Mr Jewitt dealt with a drug and alcohol problem through counselling and the probation service.

Ms Fawsitt submitted it would be of more benefit to society if he continued with that rehabilitation with the threat of jail term hanging over him as a deterrent.