23-06-2025
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.'
