Jail for Corkman 'caught red-handed' with €70k worth of cocaine in a car

The court heard that the defendant 'was essentially a courier bringing drugs from A to B.'

He admitted having cocaine for sale or supply at a time when its street value exceeded €13,000 — a count that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years on conviction unless there are exceptional circumstances. File picture

A motorist was stopped in Ballyphehane and when gardaí searched the vehicle they uncovered €70,000 worth of cocaine in a plastic bag and now he has been jailed for 18 months.

Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a sentence of three years with last 18 months suspended in the case against Timmy Lyons of Saraville Place, Pouladuff Road, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Fergal Long gave evidence of encountering the motorist on April 8, 2022, and carrying out the drugs search as he became suspicious of him. The kilo of cocaine had a street value of €70,000 and was seized in the search of the car driven by the 46-year-old in Ballyphehane.

Timmy Lyons signed pleas of guilty to three charges including having cocaine for sale or supply at a time when its street value exceeded €13,000 — a count that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years on conviction unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Judge Quinn noted that the accused had a mixing agent as well as the cocaine. “He admitted collecting the drugs. He knew it was cocaine. He didn’t know the quantity. He said he owed €1,000 in relation to an alcohol problem he had.

“Detective Sergeant Long agreed he was acting in the role of courier. The drugs were not concealed.

He is very reclusive. He had an addiction to alcohol at the time. He was essentially a courier bringing drugs from A to B. He was obviously trusted with drugs and mixing agent.

“The aggravating factors include the obvious harm to society of this activity. In mitigation, he signed pleas of guilty at the district court. That is a matter which must attract significant mitigation.

“One could say he was caught red-handed with the drugs in the car. But the prosecution would still have to prove possession. He is in employment. He has no previous convictions. He has not come to adverse garda attention since this. He has a very good history of employment… He struggles with anxiety,” Judge Quinn said in the course of sentencing.

He imposed a total sentence of three years — half of it suspended.