Cannabis found under Cork man's lawnmower and garden tools was being sold to pay drugs debt

The judge decided to suspend a sentence of three years and four months on the Ballycotton man

Gardaí found over €29,000 worth of cannabis at the man's home in Ballycotton. File picture: iStock

Ballycotton was the location for the seizure of over €29,000 worth of cannabis which gardaí found concealed at a property, hidden under a lawnmower, gardening equipment and in a coal bunker.

Detective Garda James McCarthy said that on June 10, 2023, a warrant was executed for a search of the home of Warren Hayes at Seaview Park, Ballycotton, County Cork.

“When informed that gardaí had a search warrant he became extremely nervous and denied there were any drugs on the property.

“His vehicle was first searched and there was a small amount of cocaine for personal use.

“In their house there was cannabis with a street value of over €29,000 in three separate quantities. They were all wrapped in plastic.

“One was found under a lawnmower, another was found under gardening equipment and a third quantity was concealed under loose coals in a coal-bunker.

“(After initial denial) he admitted having cannabis for sale. He said he had been selling for 12 months to service a debt he accumulated for his own cocaine addiction,” Det. Garda McCarthy said.

Defence senior counsel, Donal O’Sullivan, said: “He went for treatment with addiction services. In every other respect he is a perfectly decent man. He got a significant addiction to cocaine.” 

Judge Helen Boyle had remanded the accused in custody for two days until sentencing on Friday to consider the matter. She decided to suspend a sentence of three years and four months on the 43-year-old who is in full-time employment.