Detection dog must have been exhausted, says judge, as five before court for drug possession

All caught with cocaine at music festival last August

Defendants had been attending the Indiependence music festival.

Several individuals who were caught with cocaine at the Indiependence music festival last year have appeared in court charged with possession of a controlled drug.

The five men, who attended the festival, outside Mitchelstown, Co Cork, over the August bank holiday weekend in 2023, appeared before Judge Colm Roberts at Fermoy District Court. 

Cillian O’Brien, aged 20, of Glencorry, Garryspillane, Co Limerick, an architecture student, was caught by a plain-clothes garda in possession of €100 worth of cocaine. 

He had no previous convictions. 

He was given the benefit of the Probation Act and ordered to make a €400 donation to Unicef.

Dane Hurn, aged 29, of Giolla Rua, Shean Upper, Station Rd, Blarney, Co Cork, was caught with a clear plastic bag containing €140 worth of cocaine. 

The court heard that the bricklayer had eight previous convictions.  

Judge Roberts convicted him and sentenced him to 120 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison.

Tom Casey, aged 22, of Highfield Lodge, Glanmire, Co Cork, was arrested for possession of cocaine valued at €40. 

The court heard he had no previous convictions. 

He was given the benefit of the Probation Act and made a €400 donation to the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP).

Timmy Ryan, aged 28, of 41 Cluain Duabh, Father Russel Rd, Limerick, was caught in possession of a bag of cocaine valued at €100. 

He was ordered to donate €400 to SVP and given the benefit of the Probation Act.

Daniel O’Connell, aged 27, of 63 Meadow Park Rd, Ballyvolane, Cork, was caught in possession of cocaine valued at €70. 

His solicitor, Ciaran O’Keeffe, told the court that Mr O’Connell had been through a difficult time and had been homeless. 

He had no previous convictions.

Mr O’Connell was ordered to make a €300 donation to SVP by September 13.

Judge Roberts said that the detection dog at the Indiependence festival must have been exhausted when the weekend was over.