Cork gardaí found €44k of cocaine in compartment hidden in car, court told

The court heard a key fob was found in the back of the car which opened a specifically manufactured compartment with a quantity of white powder

The court was told that the accused had accrued drug debts and committed this offence in an effort to reduce the debts he owed to others. File photo

A car was modified for a hidden fob-controlled compartment which gardaí uncovered during a search as €44,000 was worth of cocaine was found.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Philip Cooley who is originally from the Riverstown, Tower, Blarney, County Cork, faced sentencing for having these drugs for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others.

Detective Garda Dave Hickey said the 33-year-old was stopped in his Hyundai car after midnight on January 13, 2023.

Gardaí carried out a search of the car when it was removed to the compound at Togher garda station. Det. Garda Hickey said a key fob was found in the back of the vehicle and this opened a specifically manufactured compartment with a quantity of white powder.

Questioned about this matter, Philip Cooley admitted he was aware the car had been modified for the provision of this compartment.

“He was acting as a courier. He had driven to Galway to collect the package and he was back in Cork awaiting instructions on where on the north side of Cork City he was to bring it,” the detective said.

He added that the accused had accrued drug debts and committed this offence in an effort to reduce the debts he owed to others.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said: 

He was the creature of others in doing this. His role was to drive the car and await instructions. 

Alice Fawsitt, senior counsel, said that the accused man was not benefitting personally from his role other than to reduce his debt. Ms Fawsitt referred to a text on his phone from the previous day when he was asking his father for €20.

Det. Garda Hickey agreed that there was absolutely no sign of the defendant accruing any kind of wealth from his actions.

Judge Sheehan said: “Mr Cooley has done everything he can to change his life and in that regard I can look at it as a truly exceptional case. I will impose a sentence of five years and suspend that sentence.”