Courts / Carlow / Report
Carlow man caught with €23k drugs in shed avoids jail
Summary
A Carlow man who admitted to storing over €20,000 worth of cannabis in a shed to feed his own addiction has received a three-year suspended sentence. Colm Cody (41) of Augha, Bagenalstown, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine at his home on November 28, 2023. He has no previous convictions. Detective Sergeant Stephen Delaney explained that a warrant was obtained to search Cody's home based on garda intelligence. Cody was not present, but his daughter was, and the gardaí waited for him to return. A small amount of cannabis and MDMA was found in Cody's bedroom, while the larger quantities were discovered in the shed. Cody accepted responsibility at the scene and later told gardaí that the cannabis in his bedroom was for his own use, to help manage stress and depression. He admitted to agreeing to store the cannabis to feed his addiction but denied selling the drugs. His defence argued that he was under threat, with someone warning him that his daughter was at home all day.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Carlow man caught with €23k drugs in shed avoids jail. Charges or matters: having cannabis, worth an estimated €21,097, MDMA with an estimated value of €1,930 and cocaine with a value of €656 at his home on November 28, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 28, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-05-21 Publication
Why: Mr Cody asked the court to accept that his client was vulnerable and "he had to resort to this in order to feed his addiction", Judge O'Kelly said he found it "extraordinary" that someone who has such a seriously ill daughter would engage in this type of behaviour before he accepted that Cody was operating at a low level in the enterprise. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: having cannabis, worth an estimated €21,097, MDMA with an estimated value of €1,930 and cocaine with a value of €656 at his home on November 28, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He set a headline sentence of four years before he imposed a sentence of three years having taken into consideration Cody's lack of previous convictions, his mental health difficulties and the fact that he has a good work history.
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