Accused threw white powder down toilet in Cork garda station 

He had been found with €30 of cannabis stashed in his underwear before he was put in the cell.

However, gardaí then observed him fiddling with something and found him trying to flush tinfoil with some white powder in it down the toilet.

Judge Colm Roberts asked if the man had not been searched before entering the cell.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan said that he had been searched, but very small items can still be concealed on someone’s body. She said: 

People are very good at hiding things, and this was very small. 

Throwing drugs down the toilet destroys evidence, she said, so the white powder on the tinfoil could not be tested by Forensic Science Ireland.

Judge Roberts asked if he would be willing to do community service.

“Yes, Judge,” Lonergan, of 22 Summerhill, Mallow, said.

On the obstruction charge, 90 hours of community service were given in lieu of three months in prison.

For a drug possession charge contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, he was given a five-month sentence suspended for one year on the basis that he was not to consume any alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.

For using threatening or abusive language or behaviour in a public place, contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, he was fined €200 and given two months to pay.

The charge of intoxication in a public place was taken into consideration.

If he gets arrested and convicted for a public order offence while drunk in a public place, or for having even €3 of cannabis, he will go to prison, Judge Roberts warned.

“Things are changing. If too much of the same thing is happening, there will be consequences, and they will be harsh,” Judge Roberts warned.

“I’m seeing you too much, I don’t want to see you. You don’t want to see me.”