A Cork man who was jailed last year for having £90,000 worth of cannabis has been released on bail by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court until next December under strict probation supervision.
Niall McCarthy's explanation to gardai about how the drugs came to be in his car was described as "an outrageous cock and bull story" by Judge Michael Moriarty when he jailed him for four years in March, 1995.
The cannabis was found after his car crashed through a fence at Fahanloose, Ballinhassig, Co Cork, during a chase by Bandon gardai. The car had been suddenly reversed and driven off at speed when Garda Maurice Johnson went to carry out a routine check late at night.
McCarthy (28), otherwise William Cornelius McCarthy, of Audley Place, Patrick's Hill Cork, pleaded guilty to having 8,818.5 grammes of cannabis resin for supply on March 11th, 1993.
Defence counsel, Mr Brendan Grehan, said that his client had now dissociated himself from the Cork drugs business and was ready to start a new life. He had received certificates in languages and art by studying Dublin City VEC courses while in prison. He had also received City and Guilds credits in computer courses and the prison authorities had reported him as being co-operative. The probation report was also positive.
Mr Grehan said that a job was being held open for McCarthy in Cork. His family and girlfriend had stood by him and given him support. He was prepared to live at home with his parents, which he had not done for 10 years.
Judge Moriarty said that he would not finalise a suspension of the balance of McCarthy's sentence until December 6th next. He would give him a chance to prove himself on bail until then under probation supervision. While others with more vociferous views might urge a different course, as a judge he had to have regard to all the facts placed before the court and balance these to come to an independent decision.