Cork teenager gave middle finger to gardaí as they searched for drugs he had thrown from car

Boy's home was searched under warrant

Cannabis with a street value of €7,600 and cocaine worth €320 were recovered.

A teenager threw a bag of cannabis out the window of a car in Midleton when gardaí approached and later passed the scene where the officers were searching for the stash and gave them the middle finger from the car.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court the now 17-year-old has been given a two-year sentence of detention with half of that sentence suspended.

Garda Cormac Axson outlined the background to the drug-dealing incident which was detected on March 1, 2024.

At 4.30pm at Mill Rd, Midleton, Co Cork, a particular car was spotted by gardaí and a young man in the front seat known to be involved in the sale or supply of drugs was seen.

“He threw plastic bags out the window. The car was driven away. It was stopped soon after when signalled to stop. Nothing was found in the car.

“Gardaí returned to the green area to conduct a search. The car (which had been searched) was driven and the youth who threw the drugs out the window gave the middle finger.” 

This teenager’s home was then searched under warrant.

Between what was found in the search at the scene in Midleton and later discovered at his home, cannabis with a street value of €7,600 and cocaine worth €320 were recovered.

Garda Axson said of the accused: “He has come to attention a number of times since and has convictions from before this date.”

Jeff Hitchmough defence barrister said: “He was 16 at the time of the offences. He has a letter of apology before the court. He seems quite contrite and wants to put his best foot forward into the future. There was a lack of structure in his younger life.

“Now in Oberstown (detention centre) people dealing with him find him to be a pleasant, kind and caring person. He wants to apologise to everyone he may have wronged.”

 Judge Dermot Sheehan said: “He accepted full responsibility and maintained the guilty plea before the court. These are serious offences involving two very common drugs now in the East Cork area — cannabis and cocaine. I take into consideration his very young age.” 

He was sentenced on charges including dealing of cannabis and cocaine.

The accused cannot be named because he is a juvenile — 16 at the time of the offence, 17 now, and soon to turn 18.