Courts / Cork / Report

Jail sentence increased for man twice caught with cannabis within five months

Date
2018-03-09
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Fermoy
County
Cork

Summary

Patrick Farrelly, 26, of Stag Park, Mitchelstown, Cork, was found with about €70,000 worth of cannabis over five months. He pleaded guilty to possessing €66,000 of drugs for sale or supply on 26 November 2016 and to possessing €3,692 of cannabis five months earlier. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years, with 18 months suspended, and a concurrent 12‑month sentence for the lesser offence, leaving a net two‑year term. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. In the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Alan Mahon increased the sentence for the more serious charge to five years, with 18 months suspended, while the 12‑month sentence remained unchanged. The new five‑year term runs concurrently with the 12‑month term, which was likely already served.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail sentence increased for man twice caught with cannabis within five months. Charges or matters: possessing €66,000 worth of drugs, mostly cannabis, for sale or supply at his home on November 26, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Patrick Farrelly

Convicted Person

Charges: possessing €66,000 worth of drugs, mostly cannabis, for sale or supply at his home on November 26, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Gerard O'Brien on May 17, 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review of Farrelly's sentence today on grounds that it was too lenient and he was accordingly given a new sentence of five years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Cork
  • Cork Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Incident

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

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