Cobh man jailed for two years after discovery of cannabis worth €13,000

Man jailed for drug-dealing

The large quantity of cannabis was found in a garden shed.

 Cannabis worth €13,000 was uncovered in the garden shed at the back of a house in Cobh and now a 51-year-old man has been jailed for two years for drug-dealing.

Detective Garda David O’Shea testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Garda Patrick O’Callaghan observed a vehicle outside College Lawn in Cobh at 7am on April 4, 2024.

Gardaí believed that there was suspicious activity in the manner of the driving at that hour of the morning.

The driver, Vincent Cunningham, with an address at 57 College Lawn, College Manor, Cobh, Co Cork, was known to gardaí.

When they signalled for him to stop there was a smell of cannabis from the car and he appeared to be acting nervously.

“He immediately admitted he had two bags behind the driver’s seat. He said that one contained cannabis for private use and the other had cannabis for a friend. The total value of the drugs was €272.

“The home of the accused at College Lawn, College Manor, was then searched and a larger quantity with a street value of €13,000 was found in the garden shed,” Det Garda O’Shea said.

The detective said the manhad two previous drug-dealing convictions and three convictions for having drugs for his own use.

Defence barrister Jeff Hitchmough said the defendant had been an alcoholic for a long time but finished with alcohol 14 years. He said he was storing the cannabis for others and was acting under some level of duress.

Judge Helen Boyle said that, although there may have been some duress in the background, the defendant was still involved in the distribution of cannabis in the greater Cork area.

The judge said that by signing a plea of guilty, Cunningham had saved the State the time and expense of a trial and the preparation of a book of evidence.

The judge imposed a total sentence of two years and eight months but suspended the last eight months of the sentence.