Louth man tried to flush cocaine down hotel toilet as gardaí closed in

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A man tried to flush cocaine down a toilet in a Drogheda hotel as gardaí closed in, the district court has been told.

However, the drugs were retrieved and Charlie Maher (26) ended up being prosecuted.

The defendant, of Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to possession and possession for sale or supply of cocaine at Scholars Townhouse Hotel, King Street, and to possession of cannabis at his home after a follow-up search.

He has one previous conviction for possession of €5,747 cocaine for sale or supply for which he received a fully suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence in the circuit court last June.

Mr Maher’s solicitor said that he was “used, manipulated and turned upside down” by drug dealers.

Det Gda John Walsh testified that at 8.55pm on February 11, 2022, he spotted the defendant acting suspiciously.

On seeing the officer, the other man fled into Scholars where in a cubicle he attempted to flush a wrapper which contained white powder.

The drugs - €433 cocaine - were recovered from the toilet, and €20 cannabis at Mr Maher’s home.

Det Gda Walsh continued that he refused to co-operate and gave a “no comment” interview.

However, Facebook messages proved that he had been dealing beforehand.

Solicitor Dermot Monahan said that his client was “not the smartest” and had been “so stupid”.

He was used, manipulated and turned upside down by drug dealers, such was his gullibility.

This had an impact on an inheritance he was due. It had been “taken off him”.

The solicitor said that Mr Maher seemed to have detached himself from these people and for the last four years has been working in a Duleek restaurant.

His mother had passed away since this offending.

Judge Nicola Andrews remanded the defendant on continuing bail to May 18 for a probation report.