Judge says Cork man caught drug dealing had himself to blame for jail term

A young man caught drug-dealing in Macroom effectively signed his own imprisonment warrant by continuing to use drugs and failing to turn up for his probation appointments.

Judge Helen Boyle told Charlie McSweeney at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that in this respect, he had himself to blame for his jail term of 18 months.

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan testified that on Friday April 7, 2023, he obtained a search warrant under Misuse of Drugs Act to search the residence of Charlie McSweeney at 48, The Glenties, Macroom, Cork.

“The search on April 7, 2023, resulted in the discovery of cocaine, cannabis herb, LSD and benzocaine, a weighing scales, small clear bags, and €740 cash from two locations, the home of Charlie McSweeney, and his stash points at the end of the estate in overgrowth, ferns and a wall.

“At the scene of the search, Charlie McSweeney stated he owned the drugs discovered and itted selling cocaine.

“He was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs for sale or supply, cautioned and conveyed to Bandon Garda Station. Charlie McSweeney was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 2006 for the investigation of the offence.

itted

“He itted in interview that he was selling cocaine and cannabis, that the cash seized was mostly the proceeds of selling drugs. Charlie McSweeney itted too that the benzocaine was for mixing with cocaine.

“The drugs were bagged in self-sealing evidence bags and forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.” 

Judge Helen Boyle said that the gravity of the offence was a factor that had to be taken into consideration, including the fact that the drugs had a street value of €4,900. The judge also noted that he had two previous drug-dealing offences, for which he was given suspended jail .

“You had a drug problem at the time. You had a debt you were trying to pay off. You got suspended sentences on both of those (dealing convictions). In mitigation, your plea of guilty saved the time and expense of a trial. You co-operated with the search - you showed where drugs were outside.

“At 22 years of age, you are still very young. Two probation reports on you unfortunately read very poorly.” 

Missed appointments

The judge referred to missed appointments, followed by then missing re-scheduled appointments.

Judge Boyle noted that the defendant continued to be a drug addict but she said that even where that was the case people could be assisted and ed – they could rehabilitate even where they relapsed.

“Having been told to co-operate you signed your own warrant unfortunately,” Judge Boyle said.

The judge told the young man that he needed to address his addiction because it was so serious that it caused the loss of his work apprenticeship and he chose not to co-operate with the probation service.

Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of two years and three months, and suspended the final nine months.