Courts / Cork / Report
Dealer who claimed he was out 'lamping' rabbits when he was caught in drugs sting fails in appeal
Summary
Karl Humphries, 40, of Bishopstown, was convicted in July 2021 of three counts of possession of cannabis worth about €58,000 for sale or supply. He claimed he was out hunting rabbits in Watergrasshill on 25 July 2012 when a Garda sting operation found a 9.74‑kg bag of cannabis under a hedge. Humphries denied any involvement in the drug trade, stating he never touched the bag and that he was simply searching for it. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a 10‑2 jury. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Humphries appealed on grounds that the judge failed to properly explain inferences, the standard of proof and the elements of sale or supply. The three‑judge court dismissed all three grounds and upheld the conviction and sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dealer who claimed he was out 'lamping' rabbits when he was caught in drugs sting fails in appeal. Charges or matters: three counts of possession of cannabis worth around €58K for sale or supply by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury in July 2021; the three charges and maintained he never touched the bag. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 2021 Incident
- July 25, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-05-15 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: three counts of possession of cannabis worth around €58K for sale or supply by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury in July 2021; the three charges and maintained he never touched the bag (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Someone would want to pull themselves together." The judge sentenced Humphries to 10 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
Places mentioned
- Curraheen Drive
- Watergrasshill
- Cork
- Cork
- Cork Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
- Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request