Man who collected over €16,000 worth of cocaine in Longford panicked when he encountered Garda checkpoint

A judge has suggested he will consider community service for a father of three who was caught with cocaine valued at over €16,000.

Colin Shanley (47) of Drumsillagh, Cootehall, Boyle, Roscommon pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court of being in unlawful possession of cocaine and a charge of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on May 15, 2021 at the same location.

State prosecutor Shane Geraghty BL, said the total value of the cocaine detected was nearly €16,597, which was split into two packages, hidden in the driver's side door and the footwell.

Leading Garda Noelle Fahy's evidence, Mr Geraghty said on May 15, 2021 her colleague Gda Brian Farrell assisted with a checkpoint at Curry Church where he observed a white van slow up in the distance and turn off the main road.

The officer subsequently activated his lights and sirens and he drove to the side of the road where he observed the van pulled in on the grass verge and he spoke with the driver.

The court heard Shanley appeared nervous and he was shaking profusely.

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The car was searched and the driver then admitted he had a quantity of cocaine in the vehicle.

Shanley was brought to Longford Garda Station for a search and he admitted there was 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's door of his van for his own personal use valued at about €800.

Officers were told there was another larger package weighing 208 grams in the footwell, which the defendant had collected in Ballymahon.

The court heard when Shanley, who did not request a solicitor, was asked by Gardaí what he was doing in Ballymahon he stated he had been asked to pick up a package outside a garage and then drop it to Longford.

"He said I was told a guy would contact me when I got to the garage, a guy approached me and handed me the package," he said. "I put the package on the passenger side floor and I headed for Longford."

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When asked by Gardaí who handed him the package he said he did not know and he was told the man would approach the van when he got there.

Shanley took full responsibility for the cocaine and despite not informing Gardaí who he was moving the package for they accepted he had genuine fears for both his own and his family's safety.

Shanley told officers he had driven from Boyle to Longford that morning to go fishing with another man at around 12-midday and when he was there he received a phone call to go to Ballymahon to pick up a package.

"He described it was from a guy he knew before who he owed money to," Mr Geraghty, who added it was on his way back that he encountered the Garda checkpoint.

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In his Garda Statement Shanley said, "I panicked as I knew the guy I had collected the package off. I had bought drugs off him previously for my own personal use a number of years before so I turned down the layby when I saw the checkpoint."

Mr Geraghty stated Shanley met a man in Longford earlier in the day where he purchased the drugs in the smaller package for his own use and he then received a call to move the other drugs.

Shanley told Gardaí he received two grams of cocaine for his part in the operation and he routinely consumed up to €300 of the drug every week as it "helped" with his depression.

The defendant stated he had a drug debt of between €5,000 and €10,000.

Asked if he knew it was drugs, he said, "I knew it had to be something similar, it wasn't marbles."

The court heard Shanley, who is living in rented accommodation with his wife and children, previously worked as a fisheries officer and spent his "life in the fire service".

Shanley apologised to Gardaí who accepted he was not involved in selling drugs.

Defence barrister Gerard Groarke BL, put it to Gda Fahy it was accepted he had a "genuine fear of repercussions" if he provided further information and she agreed.

Shanley has no previous convictions.

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However, Gda Fahy said the defendant has a driving related prosecution pending.

Mr Groarke maintained his client had informed his probation officer he had used drugs on one occasion since he was detected for the offence before the court; however, he claimed this was not included in her report.

Mr Groarke said Shanley recently started new employment where he is required to undergo random drug testing.

Judge Kenneth Connolly decided to adjourn the case until October 28, 2025 and he directed Shanley to organise urine analysis for a minimum of alcohol and cocaine every three weeks with his GP.

"Mr Shanley will need to pass those tests. I will direct an up to date probation and welfare report and I will ask the probation officer to confirm that he remains suitable for community service," the judge concluded.