Claim that man swallowed crack cocaine during Offaly drug search is denied

A SOLICITOR at Tullamore District denied a claim by the gardai that his client had swallowed crack cocaine.

Donal Farrelly was referring to Simon Whelan (41), Boyne Meadows, Edenderry, who admitted impeding a garda during a drug search at The Sycamores, Edenderry on November 30 last.

The charge before Judge Andrew Cody alleged Mr Whelan had swallowed a deal of crack cocaine which had been concealed in his sleeve.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court Mr Whelan had 61 previous convictions a number of which were for drug possession offences.

The most recent conviction was on November 8 last when Mr Whelan was fined €650 and in May last year he received a six-month suspended sentence for a drugs offence and driving without insurance.

The accused also had a drugs conviction from Blanchardstown District Court dating from March, 2023 and he was banned from driving on that occasion for having no insurance.

There were also previous convictions for public order offences, including a breach of the peace and public drunkenness.

Mr Farrelly said the item swallowed by his client was a Tranex tablet, and not crack cocaine and it had been suggested it was the latter because of the person it was purchased from.

The solicitor said his client suffered from addiction and was waiting for a bed in a treatment centre.

He is the father of a six-year-old child and looked after that child because tragically the mother could not do so.

He struggled from time to time with addiction but was on a methadone programme and a prison sentence “would set him back considerably”.

Judge Cody adjourned the matter to this Wednesday (January 17) for written evidence the accused is on a waiting list for treatment and a timeline for when he is likely to be admitted.

He said he would impose the suspended six-month sentence unless that evidence was put before him.