Ireland Teen sentenced for drug sale and supply in Cork
David O'Donovan, a 19-year-old man from Cherrywood Heights, Midleton, was stopped and searched by gardai in Bailick, Midleton, on 11 April 2020, when cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy with a combined street value of approximately €70,000 were found in rucksacks he owned, and a follow-up search of his house revealed additional cannabis, weighing scales and plastic bags. He was arrested at Midleton Garda Station, made full admissions, and pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where Det Garda Diarmuid O'Neill of the Midleton District Drugs Squad gave evidence. On 24 September 2021, Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin imposed a five-year suspended sentence, citing O'Donovan's rehabilitation efforts including 26 drug-free urinalysis tests.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Sep
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cannabis with a street value of €37,720, cocaine worth €10,395, and ecstasy with a value of €15,954 were found in rucksacks owned by O'Donovan.
- A follow-up search of his house found cannabis worth €4,168 along with weighing scales and plastic bags.
- When
- All offences occurred on 11 April 2020.
- Where
- The drugs were found in Bailick, Midleton, and at Cherrywood Heights, Midleton, Co Cork.
- Investigation
- He was stopped and searched by gardai in Bailick and arrested for questioning at Midleton Garda Station.
- He made full admissions, co-operated with gardai, and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy for sale or supply at Bailick, Midleton, and to possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Cherrywood Heights, Midleton.
- In court
- The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, with evidence from Det Garda Diarmuid O'Neill of the Midleton District Drugs Squad.
- Sentence
- Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin imposed a five-year suspended sentence.
- Other details
- O'Donovan gave an undertaking to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
- He has 26 drug-free urinalysis tests to his credit and has not come to garda attention since his arrest.
- He became addicted to cannabis at age 14 and was dealing to feed his habit.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCannabis with a street value of €37,720 was found (corkbeo.ie)
- whatCocaine worth €10,395 was found (corkbeo.ie)
- whatEcstasy with a value of €15,954 was found (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe drugs were found in rucksacks owned by O'Donovan (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA follow-up search of his house found cannabis worth €4,168 along with weighing scales and plastic bags (corkbeo.ie)
- whenAll offences occurred on 11 April 2020 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHe was stopped and searched by gardai in Bailick on the date of the offence (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHe was arrested for questioning at Midleton Garda Station (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHe made full admissions, co-operated with gardai and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy at Bailick, Midleton for sale or supply (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Cherrywood Heights, Midleton (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court (corkbeo.ie)
- courtDet Garda Diarmuid O'Neill of the Midleton District Drugs Squad gave evidence (corkbeo.ie)
- courtDefence counsel was Seamus Roche SC (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceJudge Sean Ó Donnabháin imposed a five-year suspended sentence (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceO'Donovan gave an undertaking to keep the peace and be of good behaviour (corkbeo.ie)
- otherHe has not come to garda attention since his arrest (corkbeo.ie)
- otherHe has 26 drug-free urinalysis tests to his credit (corkbeo.ie)
- otherHe became addicted to cannabis at age 14 and was dealing to feed his habit (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe judge described it as a very serious case for a man of such a young age (corkbeo.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Sep2021Cork teen with €70k of drugs gets chance after 'huge efforts' to beat addiction
Reports the sentencing of David O'Donovan to a five-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, including details of the drugs seized (total street value approximately €70,000), his rehabilitation efforts including a residential treatment course, and the judge's reasoning for deviating from the mandatory 10-year term.
convicted, David O'Donovan, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)David O'Donovan