Cork man caught with €12,900 worth of cannabis claimed he was storing it for unnamed person

When interviewed on four occasions by gardaí, accused admitted possession for his own personal use but he denied selling the cannabis, court told

Gardaí found the drugs in the accused's car, which was parked outside his house. Picture: Getty

A 54-year-old Fermoy man who was caught with €12,900 worth of cannabis claimed he was only storing the drugs for an unnamed person — but the investigating garda said the man was doing a bit more than storing, and had transported the stash, which he picked up in a field in Co Waterford.

Gerard Huffe, of Seán O’Brien Park, Beechfield, Fermoy, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cannabis and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

Garda Cormac Axson said gardaí from the Cork County divisional drugs unit went to the home of Gerard Huffe at Seán O’Brien Park, Beechfield, Fermoy, on February 20, 2024, to conduct a search under warrant.

The accused was present at the time, and indicated drugs were not to be found in the house, but were present in the boot of his Mazda car parked outside, which would have been part of the search in any event.

The cannabis weighing more than 600 grammes had a street value of €12,900.

“Interviewed on four occasions, he admitted possession for his own personal use but he denied selling the cannabis.

“His previous convictions included three for having drugs for his own use and one for dealing, for which he was given a six-month suspended sentence,” Garda Axson testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Brian Leahy, barrister, said the accused had addiction problems but was now clear of drug use and attending for regular urinalysis.

Mr Leahy said one of the urinalysis tests was positive for alcohol. He explained this by saying Mr Huffe was very nervous about attending for the drugs test and had gone drinking because of this anxiety.

Judge Dermot Sheehan assessed the sentence at three years, adding that, "reluctantly", he would suspend the sentence in its entirety.