A major player in the drugs trade in North Cork was jailed on Tuesday for seven and a half years.
Judge Helen Boyle imposed that total sentence on 32-year-old Christopher Lane at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
“Gardaí say you were a major player in the drugs scene in North Cork, also supplying it to drug dealers — maybe one or two — so you were involved in wholesaling as well as supplying to drugs users.
“You were engaged at a relatively high level, supplying drugs in North Cork and beyond. Unfortunately, despite your first arrest, you continued to deal drugs.”
Judge Boyle noted from evidence given by Detective Garda David Barrett that after he was caught with over €44,000 worth of drugs at his home, he was searched twice again on follow-up dates and found to be dealing further quantities of drugs.
Judge Boyle viewed the repeat offending as an aggravating factor, meriting the imposition of consecutive sentences that left Lane facing into a prison term of seven and a half years.
The biggest stash of drugs was seized on November 11, 2022, at the house where he was then residing at Curracraigue, Banteer, Co Cork.
Detective Garda Barrett said a warrant was executed to carry out a search on that date, and officers arrived to find Christopher Lane sitting at the kitchen table preparing packages of cannabis for selling.
The drugs seized on that date included €28,000 worth of cannabis herb, €13,000 worth of cannabis resin, €2,800 worth of cocaine and cash totalling €3,520, which was deemed to be the proceeds of drug-dealing.
Paraphernalia of dealing such as digital weighing scales, baggies and drug-related phone messages were located during this search, as well as drugs totalling over €44,000.
This drugs seizure alone put the accused at risk of a minimum sentence of 10 years unless the judge found there were exceptional circumstances.
Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of four and a half years but added a three-year consecutive term in respect of the two follow-up offences.
The accused claimed at the time he had a €50,000 drug debt and he was owed €20,000, but Judge Boyle noted these figures changed somewhat in the course of different accounts given by Lane during Garda interviews.
On June 16, 2023, at the same address in Banteer, he was caught with smaller amounts of cannabis and cocaine — but again for sale or supply and with the trappings of drug-dealing. Cash of €7,835 was also discovered.
Most recently, on January 30 this year at his most recent address — Dromscarra, Kiskeam, Co Cork — a third warrant was executed and almost €11,000 worth of cocaine was found, together with €350 worth of cannabis and €500 in cash.
Judge Boyle noted Lane came forward to Cork Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas of guilty to all crimes.
“Unfortunately, your drug addiction continued to spiral out of control. You are capable of earning a living in a legitimate way. You are regretful. And you expressed relief at being caught by gardaí so that you could finally face up to your addictions,” Judge Boyle said.
Jane Hyland, defence senior counsel said of Christopher Lane: “He has always engaged well with the probation service. He has never sought to minimise his actions. He does recognise the toll drugs take on the local community and on society. He was powerless in his addiction. He is aware now how serious his situation is.
“He was selling drugs to fund his own drug taking and was then selling to pay his debt.
“He is assessed at moderate risk of reoffending but the probation service noted that he has a pro-social family and a good work ethic. He is ashamed and embarrassed. He regrets putting everyone to the trouble he put them through. He is taking full responsibility.”
