Court told of Garda operation to catch Dublin heroin dealer after tracking him through Cork City

Philip Knowles was jailed for six years

Philip Knowles pleaded guilty to his part in the crime of having €54,900 worth of heroin for sale or supply. File photo: Chris Young/PA

A Dublin heroin dealer who was followed by gardaí through the streets of Cork before ultimately transacting an exchange with two local men has been jailed for six years.

Sergeant Paul Leahy gave evidence of the drugs operation at the sentencing hearing for Philip Knowles at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a sentence of eight years on 35-year-old Philip Knowles of St. Mark’s Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin, who pleaded guilty to his part in the crime of having €54,900 worth of heroin for sale or supply.

The transaction between Knowles and two other men was observed by a garda surveillance operation that kept tabs on their movements from the Dubliner’s arrival in Cork until the moment that he handed over a package to others.

Sergeant Leahy said the surveillance commenced at Merchants Quay where two Cork men were seen talking to Philip Knowles at the 202 bus stop. Knowles got on to the bus with one of the men, travelling towards the north side of the city. 

They got on the bus sitting at the back facing each other. Their activities were being monitored on the bus. They got off at Cathedral Road together and met another man at the end of St. Mary’s Avenue next to the Pigeon Club.

A third man crossed to the opposite side of Cathedral Road. One of them at this stage was on an electric bike looking back. At the end of St. Mary’s Ave, this man put his hand out to Philip Knowles who handed him a white bag he was carrying. That was when gardaí intercepted all three individuals.

The other two men were sentenced for their parts in the crime previously.

One of the previous convictions for Mr Knowles was a sentence of seven years for importation of cocaine to the UK and he served three-and-a-half years of that.

Aggravating factors in the present case included his lack of co-operation. He did not even identify himself on CCTV when it was shown to him by gardaí. However, he did ultimately plead guilty to having heroin for sale or supply. 

Other mitigation includes the effects of homelessness on him, his addiction difficulties and the fact that he may have been operating under some burden of drugs debt.

“I don’t have to remind anyone of the devastating effects of heroin. And he was an integral part of the supply chain,” the judge said.