A man lying in bed at his home in Togher was caught with over €8,000 worth of cocaine in his bedside locker on Wednesday morning, it was alleged on Thursday as gardaí objected to his release on bail.
Detective Garda Emmet Long testified at Cork District Court that Laurence (Larry) O’Sullivan of 3 Palmbury Orchard, Togher, Cork, was allegedly caught red-handed.
The 57-year-old, wearing a Celtic FC tracksuit top in court, faces charges of possession of cocaine for his own use and possession of cocaine for the purpose of selling or supplying to others.
Detective Garda Emmet Long of Togher drugs unit said that gardaí and a specially trained dog went to the defendant’s home. It was alleged that in the course of a search under warrant on Wednesday, October 9, the drugs unit located a plastic bag containing €8,400 worth of suspected cocaine.
Larry O’Sullivan was in the bedroom where the cocaine was located and he confirmed to gardaí that it was his bedroom where the drugs were found in the bedside locker, Det. Garda Long testified.
Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the accused co-operated with gardaí following the arrest at his home and that testing the suspected drug could take more than six months because of delays in forensic analysis. He said the accused man denied that it was cocaine and stated that it was a mixing agent.
Objecting to bail, Det. Garda Long said: “Now that he is at a loss of €8,400, it is the belief of gardaí that he will continue to participate in the sale or supply of drugs.” Larry O’Sullivan said that he was building up his life in terms of family relationships at the moment and he said that sending him to prison would not help anything.
Judge Treasa Kelly said to the accused after listening to his application for bail: “You are charged with a very serious offence and it is alleged that you were caught with a large amount of cocaine. You are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
“There is strong evidence in support of the charge. In the overall scheme the criteria is met for a bail objection. I am not satisfied to grant bail. I am remanding you in custody to wait for DPP directions.”
On the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, Judge Kelly adjourned the case until October 17.
