Latest news with #SineadBehan
Irish Examiner
23-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cork man avoids jail for delivering drugs all over the city and county
A 48-year-old man in full-time employment was operating by night 'as a vital cog in a very organised activity of drug distribution' where he would make at least 10 drops a night all over Cork City and county. George Murray of Ard Na Greinne, Station Road, Blarney, County Cork, pleaded guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply and having cash, the proceeds of crime. Judge Sinead Behan said: 'What is worrying is that you were doing this on a regular, organised basis around Cork City and county.' The defendant spoke up at Cork Circuit Criminal Court during his sentencing hearing: 'I was addicted at the time. I got used to having money. Part of it was paying off what I was smoking.' Judge Behan said: 'These drugs are not available unless someone goes around supplying them. He was going around in an organised fashion doing at least 10 drops a night. 'He does strike me as genuinely remorseful. He co-operated with gardaí. This was quite a sophisticated operation, delivering drugs all around Cork City and count for payment. 'I don't want this man to lose his job. I think he can contribute more to society by doing his job. He is a family man and he supports his family. 'Obviously, drug-dealing is a scourge to society. He enabled the consumption of drugs to occur in a wide area of Cork.' Sentencing The judge imposed a sentence of two-and-a-half years which she suspended in respect of the charge of having cannabis for sale or supply. A 180-hour community service order was imposed for the money-laundering in respect of the cash with which he was found, being the proceeds of crime. Emmet Boyle barrister said: 'His admissions against his own interests are very much part of the case against him. The reason he was stopped driving that day was because of a fault with an indicator (rather than information about drug-dealing).' The 48-year-old man had no previous convictions, he is in gainful employment, he suffered a head injury prior to this which resulted in him taking drugs to relieve pain and he ended up in debt, Mr Boyle said in mitigation at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Detective Garda Colin O'Mahony said the value of the cannabis that was seized from him was €3,600 and he had €3,800 in cash when he was stopped by gardaí on August 23, 2024, at Oak Wood, Macroom, County Cork. The search of his vehicle was carried out on the side of the road because the accused appeared to be nervous when stopped. He admitted delivering drugs all over West Cork that night – Timoleague, Lissarda, Macroom, Bandon and Clonakilty – and that he had started out with €6,000 worth of cannabis in the package that night. 'Interviewed at Bandon garda station, he admitted delivering drugs after work at night, charging €20 per delivery and €15 if the delivery was in Cork City. He would never do less than 10 drops a day. He was involved in this for more than one year.'
Irish Examiner
06-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cork judge 'gobsmacked' at appeal by man convicted of attacking his ex in front of their children
A middle-aged man violently attacked his ex-partner in her bedroom as their two infant children tried struggled to protect her. Judge Sinead Behan said she was "gobsmacked" at Cork Circuit Appeals Court to hear that the man was hoping for a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act in his appeal of the five-month sentence imposed on him at the district court. After adjourning the case for further information on how matters had progressed since this occurred over two years ago, Judge Behan said that she would suspend the five-month jail term on condition that he would keep the peace for the next two years. He was also required to pay €500 compensation to his former partner for the assault. The judge warned him that if there was any further difficulty in the two-year period of the suspension then he would serve the five months in jail. Sergeant John Kelleher confirmed – after speaking to the victim of the case – that there had been no further assault since the violent incident occurred at around 11.30pm on March 18, 2023, when the woman's ex-partner entered her home and came into her bedroom. The sergeant described that incident: 'He started poking and punching her a number of times in the ribs. She briefly lost consciousness.' Her two infant children intervened and tried to protect their mother from this attack. 'They were trying to stop the assault,' the sergeant said. Eventually, she managed to break free from her ex-partner but he followed her down the stairs, pulled her by the hair to the floor and he then left the house. The injured party contacted her friend and ultimately the gardaí were alerted. Barrister Alan O'Dwyer appealed the case on behalf of the accused at Cork Circuit Appeals Court. 'It was very out of character for him. He and his former partner have a civil relationship now and they get on with each other. It is no excuse but he was drinking heavily on the night. "They are not living in the same house now. 'He has apologised to his former partner. He has apologised to his children,' Mr O'Dwyer said. Sgt Kelleher said the victim told him that she got a garbled text from her ex-partner the day after this occurred but she did not regard it as an apology. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
