Donegal man caught with €25,000 drugs stash

A Donegal man was found in possession of almost €25,000 worth of cannabis when Gardaí swooped on his home.

Cops raided the home of Alan Lynch at Park, Brinaleck, and found the stash.

A total of 1.247kg of cannabis, valued at €24,940, was located while €15,530 in cash was also seized. Gardaí also found four grammes of cocaine in a search of the house.

Lynch, a 36-year-old, appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court this week.

Gardaí obtained a search warrant and raided Lynch’s home on August 12, 2020. Officers detected a strong smell of cannabis upon entering the property.

Lynch and his partner were cautioned and remained in the kitchen while the rest of the house was searched.

Questioned by Counsel for the State, Ms Patricia McLaughlin BL, Detective Garda Patrick Kelly outlined the details of the search.

Gardaí located a large plastic container holding suspected cannabis. A blue bucket, also containing suspected cannabis, was found as well as five individual cannabis deals and a large plastic bag containing cannabis flavouring. A grinder and bags were found in a Quality Street box while Gardaí also seized weighing scales.

€11,400 and £10stg was found in a locker while a further €3,980 was found in the inside pocket of a suit hanging in a wardrobe. Two envelopes, containing a total of €150 in cash, and four glass containers of cannabis were also found.

Lynch admitted that all the items seized belonged to him. He told Gardaí that his partner had nothing to do with the matter.

Lynch was arrested and brought to Milford Garda Station. While Lynch admitted ownership of the cannabis, he denied that it was for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it.

The accused told Gardaí that €3,980 were from the sale of a car and claimed that the rest of the cash was from savings. He engaged in ‘odd jobs such as working in the big and selling cars,’ he told Gardaí.

The court heard that Lynch has 15 previous convictions, including two for the possession of drugs.

Lynch took to the witness box and told Judge John Aylmer that he ‘acknowledges and apologises’ for his actions. Lynch told the court that he had addiction issues for a long time, but has been receiving treatment for almost two years.

He and his partner have started a family and they have a young son and daughter.

“Life has changed completely,” Lynch, a construction worker, said. “My world now revolves around my kids. I see life in a different way.”

Lynch said he was ‘ashamed’ of what he did and didn’t want his children exposed to drug-related activity.

“I just want to keep working and looking after my children. They’re all that I think about.”

Detective Garda Kelly told the court that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) are in the process of an application to the High Court regarding the cash seized at the property.

Lynch was charged with possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another. He was also charged with the possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis.

He faced a further charge of possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another, where the aggregate market value of the said drugs amount to €13,000 or more.

He was also charged with engaging in handling or possession property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely €15,530 and £10stg cash while knowing or believing that, or being reckless as to whether or not, the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Barrister for Lynch, Mr Colm Smyth SC, said the issue had ‘brought shame’ to his client.

“He has learned a lot from his experiences,” Mr Smyth said. “He is now the main breadwinner and he has full remorse for his actions.” Mr Smyth urged the court to take into account Lynch’s early plea, co-operation and the ‘positive steps’ he has taken.

Lynch was remanded on continuing bail by Judge Aylmer until Wednesday, November 2, when he will be sentenced.