Phone messages show West Cork man was drug dealer and collected drug debts, judge says
Messages on a man’s phone showed that he was not only a drug dealer but was also involved in collecting drug debts, a judge has said.
Text, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp messages on the phone of Conor McCarthy of 15 High St in Skibbereen in Co Cork were read out in court where the 26-year-old was contesting charges of having cannabis and cocaine for the purposes of sale and supply on April 28 last.
Det Garda Andrew Manning of the West Cork Divisional Drugs Unit told Judge James McNulty that a search carried out under warrant at Mr McCarthy’s home led to the discovery of cocaine in his wallet and cannabis in his car.
Mr McCarthy admitted possession to both substances for his personal use but denied he was dealing drugs. The court heard the value of both substances seized was €80 although Mr McCarthy’s solicitor, Ray Hennessy, said the figure was lower.
Det Garda Manning also discovered €1,050 in Mr McCarthy’s wallet - which Mr McCarthy said was savings - and a bag containing 17 smaller plastic bags. The Garda also seized his phone which contained messages involving saved and unsaved contacts.
Contents of the message exchanges read out in court included one referring to "baggies”. Other exchanges included “buddy in Bantry looking for stuff”, “will you do me a favour, put half a gram in each bag”, “what’s the story with the money? You can’t keep ignoring me forever”.
One message referred to a tick list and another to the need for payment, adding “Hope so for your own safety”. Another said “no excuses, I will be visiting your home today”.
In court Mr McCarthy, a father-of-two, said of the messages:
It does not prove that I was sending those messages or receiving them.
He told the judge it “could be” others using his phone as he had given out his PIN number to his friends.
Mr McCarthy had 14 previous convictions including three for assaults, but had no history of drug offences.
Convicting him, Judge McNulty said it was “disturbing” that Mr McCarthy would send a message to the effect of threatening to doorstep someone, quoting part of the message: “You are bringing a whole load of trouble around your family.”
He sentenced Mr McCarthy to two 12 month sentences for possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale and supply, a three-month sentence for cocaine possession, and a probation bond. Mr McCarthy appealed the verdict.
