A WEST Cork man who is currently under the watch of An Garda Síochána's divisional drugs unit was brought before Bantry District Court last Thursday.

Ronan O'Sullivan (45) of 4, Slip Heights, Bantry, was described by Det Sgt Michael Lyons as being part of a group that is 'central to the supply of large quantities of cocaine in Bantry and Beara’.

He gave evidence that a search warrant executed by Gda Shannon Ryan on April 4th 2023 resulted in the seizure of 16.2g of cocaine, valued at €1,134.

On November 5th 2024, Gda Ryan carried out another search at the home of the accused and 8.12g of cocaine, valued at €570, was seized.

The detective told Judge Joanne Carroll that the cocaine was hidden in a couch that the accused had been sitting on throughout most of the search.

Under a cautioned, video-recorded interview at Bandon Garda Station, Ronan O'Sullivan admitted possession of cocaine, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale and supply. 

Sgt Tom Mulcahy said the accused has 27 previous convictions, 25 of them for road traffic matters, one for cocaine possession, and one for possession of cocaine for sale or supply.

At that court, Ronan O'Sullivan was given a five-month suspended sentence, and Judge Carroll will decide at a sitting of Skibbereen District Court on June 9th next if the suspended sentence is to be activated.

Solicitor Colette McCarthy described Ronan O'Sullivan as 'a cog in a big wheel’.

Det Sgt Lyons said the accused 'has been a target of the Cork County Divisional Drugs Unit for a long period of time’. He acknowledged that Ronan O'Sullivan is 'not the top dog here, but he is central to that group.'

Ms McCarthy said her client has mental health issues and she said he is 'susceptible' in terms of doing what others ask of him.

Det Sgt Lyons responded: 'He is happy to be involved in this grouping. He has had opportunities to distance himself from the group.'

Judge Carroll said she didn't need a probation officer's report, or to hear about the accused's vulnerability, because he had been put on notice to behave himself when he was given the five-month suspended sentence.

Judge Carroll imposed a seven-month prison sentence in respect of the first two offences on April 4th 2023: one of possession and one of possession for sale and supply.

In respect of the offences dated November 5th 2024, Judge Carroll imposed a nine-month sentence, but she suspended the last two months for two years. 

'The accused knew that he was on a suspended sentence yet he re-offended in the most grievous way,' Judge Carroll commented in her summing-up. 'As the father of a 17-year old child, this man profited by selling drugs to other people.'

Colette McCarthy asked for recognisances to be fixed so that her client could appeal against the severity of the sentence at the next sitting of Bantry Circuit Court.

The accused was released on his own cash bail of €100.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.