Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20744Possession of drugs for sale or supply · Co. Cork

Man (49) jailed for five years over €700,000 of drugs in Cork warehouse

Eugene Barrett, a 49-year-old man, was found with drugs worth €700,000 at Ardrostig, Bandon Road, Cork, on September 29th last. A joint investigation by gardaí and Revenue customs officers, which began with 35kg of cannabis intercepted in Spain, led to his arrest, and he made admissions when questioned. He pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The judge departed from the mandatory 10-year term and sentenced him to six years with the final 12 months suspended, backdated to September 29th, and the latest report, dated 13 June 2023, describes him as jailed for five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Eugene Barrett, a 49-year-old man with no previous convictions, was jailed for five years after being caught with €700,000 worth of drugs in a Cork warehouse.
Where
The drugs were found at Ardrostig, Bandon Road, Cork.
When
The offence took place on September 29th last; the sources give no year.
Investigation
  • Gardaí and Revenue customs officers carried out a joint investigation.
  • The investigation began after 35kg of cannabis was intercepted at a holding unit in Spain and then brought into Ireland and held at the Bandon Road storage unit.
  • Barrett made admissions about the haul when he was arrested and questioned.
Charges
Barrett pleaded guilty to possessing €700,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
In court
  • Barrett was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
  • The judge said Barrett's culpability was high but noted that he co-operated with gardaí and entered a signed guilty plea.
  • The judge found exceptional circumstances allowed a departure from the mandatory 10-year term.
Sentence
  • The judge said the appropriate sentence was six years with the final 12 months suspended, which the report describes as jailed for five years.
  • The sentence is backdated to September 29th last, when Barrett first went into custody.
Other details
  • The judge said Barrett made no financial gain from the drug deal.
  • Barrett's address is given as Smithgrove Terrace, Middle Glanmire Road.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBarrett was jailed for five years after being caught with drugs worth €700,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe drugs were found at Ardrostig, Bandon Road. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence took place on September 29th last. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí and Revenue customs officers carried out a joint investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBarrett made admissions about the haul when he was arrested and questioned. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBarrett pleaded guilty to possessing €700,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charge was brought under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said Barrett's culpability was high. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge noted Barrett co-operated with gardaí and entered a signed guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge found exceptional circumstances allowed a departure from the mandatory 10-year term. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge said the appropriate sentence was six years, with the final 12 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to September 29th last, when Barrett first went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • other35kg of cannabis was intercepted at a holding unit in Spain before being brought into Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said Barrett made no financial gain from the drug deal. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jun2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (49) caught with €700,000 of drugs in Cork warehouse jailed for five years

    Court sentencing report on a guilty plea. The incident is described as taking place on September 29th last, with no year given. Sentence is backdated to that date.

    convicted, Eugene Barrett, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eugene Barrett