Cork man admits possession of €185k of drugs in hotel room

The court was told that the defendant 'did have addiction problems'

The cocaine and ecstasy were found in his room at the Rochestown Park Hotel. File photo

A hotel room was the location for a €185,000 stash of cocaine and ecstasy and now a 29-year-old man has confessed to having the drugs for the purpose of selling or supplying to others.

He will be sentenced on November 4. It was estimated at the time of the drugs seizure that the cocaine had a street value of €35,000 while the MDMA (ecstasy) tablets had a value of €150,000.

Jonathan Dennehy confirmed signed pleas of guilty when he appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

His senior counsel Donal O’Sullivan said: “He did have addiction problems. He has done very well since matters came to light and I would ask for a probation report.” 

Judge Helen Boyle said she would direct the preparation of such a report but she said it was essential that the 29-year-old would attend all appointments with the probation service and co-operate fully with them.

He signed please of guilty to possessing each drug and having it for sale or supply. The fifth and most serious charge states that on December 21, 2024, at a room in Rochestown Park Hotel he had MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine for sale or supply at a time when the drugs had an aggregate market value exceeding €13,000.

Jonathan Dennehy of 62 Market Gardens, Togher Road, Cork, had already signed pleas of guilty to the five charges. Now at the circuit court he has affirmed those guilty pleas.

The facts of the case which give rise to the charges will be outlined at the sentencing hearing in November.