“20-year-old man caught with €7,000 worth of cocaine in Ballincollig home receives suspended sentence”

In 2021, Gardaí executed a drugs raid at a home in Ballincollig, where a 20-year-old man attempted to flee through the back door. Gardaí stopped him and found over €7,000 worth of cocaine in his backpack, along with deal bags, a spoon, and a mixing agent commonly associated with drug dealing. John O’Connell, who pleaded guilty to having cocaine for sale or supply and attempting to conceal drugs during the search on February 17, 2021, has been given a two-year suspended jail term at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Ronan McGuckian testified that the defendant did not cause any difficulty during the search and made a full confession to dealing cocaine to pay off a drug debt. He has since undertaken 10 urinalysis tests that have all come back negative for drugs. Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of two years suspended on the condition that the defendant doesn’t commit any further offences in the next two years. While the defendant’s drug debt may have been the reason for his drug dealing, it’s important to note that drug dealing is a serious offence that can land you in jail.