Addict charged with dealing crack cocaine from vacant house in Cork City

The defendant was granted bail on condition

The street value for the suspected drugs seizure was put at €2,100. File picture

Gardaí raided a vacant house in Sunday’s Well following reports of trespassing and they arrested a man for dealing over €2,000 worth of crack cocaine, it was alleged in court.

Garda Seán Horan gave evidence in an objection to bail being granted to Kelvin Dolan, aged 30, at Cork District Court.

“On May 11, gardaí responded to a call of trespassers at a house at Wellington Terrace, Sundays Well, Cork, which is a vacant property. Gardaí arrived at the scene and observed that the door was open.

“They entered the premises and observed drug paraphernalia all over the premises. They went upstairs and Garda Brian Ramsay observed a male known to him as Kelvin Dolan of no fixed address standing at the top of the stairs where he was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

“A tobacco pouch was located on his person which contained 25 deals of crack cocaine and more unbagged crack cocaine. Kelvin Dolan was arrested and conveyed to Gurranabraher garda station where he was detained and later charged,” Garda Horan said.

The street value for the suspected drugs seizure was put at €2,100. Garda Horan said that because of the way the drugs were divided up it appeared that they were prepared and ready to be sold as deals.

“He is of no fixed address, currently living on the street and by his own admission he is a crack cocaine addict,” Garda Horan said.

Sergeant John Dineen said: “Dealing crack cocaine is a serious offence. The concern of gardaí is that he will continue to engage in this activity to support his habit.” 

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said the defendant was welcome to live at 88 Upper Fair Hill and would live there if granted bail.

In the course of his application for bail for Kelvin Dolan, Mr Kelleher referred to prison overcrowding and prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor of cells and delays of up to several months for the forensic analysis of suspected drugs before cases could proceed.

Judge Catherine Ryan granted bail on condition to Mr Dolan, who is accused of possessing crack cocaine and having the drug for sale or supply to others. Conditions require him to reside at the Fair Hill address, keep a curfew to be home by 11pm every night and to sign daily at Gurranabraher garda station.

The case was put back until July 7 for directions from the DPP.