DRUG BUST 

Man with no previous convictions appears in court over €700,000 worth of cannabis discovery

• 21:00, 30 Sep 2022
• Updated: 21:00, 30 Sep 2022

A MAN with no previous convictions has appeared in court after the discovery of €700,000 worth of cannabis.

Today in Cork District Court, Eugene Barrett appeared charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply to others at a storage unit on Bandon Road in Cork City.

The 49-year-old was arrested when on September 29, 35kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €700,000 was seized by Customs officers at the storage unit.

The detection was part of ongoing investigations targeting Organised Crime Groups operating in the Southern Region.

It was a Joint Intelligence led operation conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, the Revenue Commissioners Customs Service, and the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit.

During the course of this operation, 35kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €700,000 was seized by Customs officers.

Gardai arrested Barrett at the scene and he was detained under Section 2 of The Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Togher Garda Station.

Det Garda Eoin O’Toole said Barrett made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution.

He objected to bail arising out of the seriousness of the charges.

Det Garda O’Toole said the sentence for a conviction in such a case was very high.

He expressed his belief that there was a likelihood that the accused would commit serious offences if he was granted bail in the cause.

Daithi O’Donnabhain, solicitor for Mr Barrett, said that his client was willing to sign up for stringent conditions such as obeying a curfew, being contactable 24/7 to Gardai and signing on regularly at his local garda station if he was granted bail in the case.

He told the court that his client was without previous convictions, adding “he made admissions and took responsibility”.

Mr O’Donnabhain said that Barrett was an unemployed man with very little means. Free legal aid was granted in the case.

NO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

He said his client had not been in trouble with the law before and had no previous convictions.

He was not a flight risk as he had ties to Cork city where he was living in his rented home for many years and was in contact with his ex-wife and his child.

He has no travel documents, not even a passport.

He said: “Being in custody is new to him.”

Judge Colm Roberts said these were extremely serious matters and declined to give bail in the case because of this.

Barrett was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on October 6 next for DPP directions.

He said he has not been on the Garda radar other than for this seizure but the court was told that somebody with that quantity of drugs is very often someone who flies under the radar.