Cork man who went cold turkey in prison may be out by Christmas after sentencing

Glen Chivers was sentenced for having €3,500 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Pembroke Street in Cork City

The court heard the defendant 'went cold turkey in prison'. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Ballincollig man who went cold turkey to get off drugs in prison was sentenced for dealing cannabis but may be released by Christmas.

Glen Chivers of Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, County Cork, was sentenced for having €3,500 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Pembroke Street, Cork, on July 19.

Judge Mary Dorgan said of the accused: “His drug addiction has seen him in all sorts of difficulties.” Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said: “He went cold turkey in prison.” He said this total abstinence from drugs to rid himself of addiction had worked well for the accused.

Judge Dorgan imposed a total sentence of 11 months with the last three months suspended. This eight-month term was backdated to July when Mr Chivers went into prison on the Pembroke Street charges and other offences. Allowing for the remission of sentence by a quarter, he is likely to be released soon.

Once released he will come under a 12-month bond to comply with the directions of the probation service.

“Now that you are sober would you please put your offending career behind you?” Judge Dorgan said to the accused. His previous convictions included 29 for having drugs for his own use.

Offences

In the latest cases for which he was sentenced, Glen Chivers was caught on Pembroke Street with cannabis for sale or supply. He had tried to run away but was caught by gardaí soon afterwards.

On February 21, he was caught with cocaine and Alprazolam tablets at Fernwood, Glanmire, County Cork, for sale or supply.

On June 10 he gave a false name to Garda Ross Broekhuizen and did the same on February 21 at another location. Regarding that offence, the judge said, “I was not impressed — he gave the name of another person first and then he gave the name of another person.” 

On April 30, he had a knife in his possession at Drinan Street. He replied when charged with this offence, “It’s handy to have”.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said that finally in the list of offences commited by the accused, he was caught on July 20, 2022, at Curraheen Road, Cork, with Diamorphine (heroin) for his own use.