Cork man told to donate €300 to court poor box after cocaine possession
Defendant had three previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply in 2018.
A Cork man who admitted possessing cocaine has been given time to make a €300 court poor box donation before a judge decides whether to apply the Probation Act.
Richard Harvey, 38, of West End Park, Castletownbere, pleaded guilty at Bantry District Court to possession of cocaine valued at €100.
The court heard a search warrant was carried out at Harvey’s home by the Divisional Drugs Unit on September 29, 2025.
Judge Joanne Carroll considered a probation report, which she described as quite positive. Harvey had three previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply in 2018, when he received probation.
Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Harvey had stopped taking drugs since the search. He said his client had formerly been a regular and habitual drug user and used cannabis for pain management.
Harvey provided two negative urine samples. One was taken at random in August, while the second was provided shortly after he returned from a wedding.
Sergeant Pádraig Ó Conchuir confirmed Harvey had not come to Garda attention since.
“I have given up drugs completely,” Harvey told the court.
Judge Carroll said the two tests were negative, though she had some concern about the circumstances surrounding the second test. She also said it was concerning Harvey had been the target of a search warrant.
Harvey said he did not know why he had been targeted, other than that Castletownbere was a small town and his name might have appeared on a list.
Judge Carroll told him that, at 38, it was time to mature. She said she would apply the Probation Act if he made a €300 donation to the court poor box. The case was adjourned until November 12 to allow Harvey time to make the payment.
- This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
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