Court adjourns sentencing of man who used 'honesty box system' to deal drugs in West Cork

The judge is waiting on a probation report for the defendant

Sentencing was adjourned until February 13. File picture: Larry Cummins

Sentencing of a man who used an honesty box system to deal drugs in West Cork was adjourned until February 13 as there was no pre-sentencing probation report available on Monday.

Judge Sinéad Behan refused an application by barrister Ben Shorten to release the accused man, 36-year-old Gideon Cullum of Fourcuil, Clonakilty, County Cork, on bail until that date.

Mr Shorten said: “He is highly incentivised to engage with the probation service. This is his first offence. He came forward on a signed plea of guilty, two counselling reports are available, he has given two supervised urine samples and he is in gainful employment – he is going in the right direction.” 

Judge Behan said: “I entirely appreciate he has quite a lot going for him but this was a sophisticated operation with 40 locations around West Cork and he admitted dealing four kilos of cannabis a year. I am not going to accede to the request (to release him until February).” 

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan said that on September 16, 2024, the defendant was seen entering the wooded area at Ballinoroher, Timoleague, where the stash of cannabis was concealed.

“During interview he admitted he had been selling since October 2020 during the second covid lockdown. His system was a well organised operation. He used a different name online. 

"There was a phone number and people would order by WhatsApp. They would receive a location PIN and would go to that rural location. The drugs would be in a lunchbox or a glass jar. 

"The person would take the cannabis and leave the cash. There was no interaction — it was click and go,” Detective Garda Ryan said. 

Judge Behan compared it to the honesty box system.