Sentenced later for agreeing to transport cocaine for a friend

By Sonya McLean

A man who told gardaí that he was transporting cocaine for a friend has been remanded on bail pending sentence next July.

Michael Fitzpatrick (47) of Brookview Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having drugs for sale or supply in Tallaght on July 25, 2024.

Garda David Dunne told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that gardaí on patrol stopped Fitzpatrick after he was spotted driving in the middle of the road.

He appeared very nervous and gardaí told him they intended to search his car for drugs.

Fitzpatrick then handed over a silver package telling officers “it is probably cocaine” before he added he had been asked to move it for a friend.

A follow-up search of his home was negative for any evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Gda Dunne told Ms Collard that the drugs had an estimated street value of just over €34,500.

In an interview with gardaí, Fitzpatrick admitted to moving the drugs and said he knew it was cocaine.

He said he was due to be paid €50 to move the drugs “from A to B”.

Gda Dunne agreed with Dominic McGinn SC, defending, that his client had no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention previously.

Fitzpatrick had been taking cocaine at the time of his arrest but counsel said he no longer uses drugs.

The garda also accepted that it was most likely that Fitzpatrick’s role was limited to transporting the drugs seeing as there was nothing of evidential value found in the subsequent search of his home.

Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for sentence to July 14 next.

Fitzpatrick was remanded on continuing bail until that date.