Graduate thought he had bought MDMA but it was cocaine

A BUSINESS graduate who thought he had bought the drug MDMA but ended up with cocaine instead, has been told by a District Court Judge that, given he’s ‘contributing to a grubby trade’ he can donate €1,000 to a drug rehabilitation centre.

Judge James McNulty made the direction when dealing with the case of Stephen McCarthy (23) of Rathorgan, Dungourney who pleaded guilty to the possession of cocaine at a recent sitting of Bandon District  Court.

Sgt Brian Harte told the court that on May 7th last gardaí in Kinsale were dealing with him on a separate matter when the defendant surrendered a small quantity of powder to them.

‘He believed it to be MDMA, but later tests carried out on the substance showed that it was cocaine, worth €5,’ said Sgt Harte.

Defence solicitor Jenny Fitzgibbon said her client, who lives at home with his parents, is very embarrassed about what happened.

‘It was his first time taking drugs and he has learned his lesson,’ said Ms Fitzgibbon.

‘He was co-operative and he thought it was something else and he had got it from a friend. He knows that the possession of cocaine is taken very seriously by West Cork courts.’

Judge James McNulty said he would like to bring the defendant back to court in a year’s time.

‘I would like a brief probation report and also want two random urinalysis over the next 12 months at his own expense. He won’t know when or where,’ said Judge McNulty.

The judge explained that it would give the court an idea of where Mr McCarthy is at, and whether it was a ‘simple experimentation’.

‘Since he’s contributing to a grubby trade he could also help those caught up in addiction by giving €1,000 to Tabor Lodge,’ he suggested.

Judge McNulty adjourned the matter to September 4th 2020 for the production of a probation report, two urinalysis reports, and the production of €1,000 for Tabor Lodge. ‘If there are any negative readings in between, all bets are off.’