Cork judge rejects 2027 adjournment in €20,000 cannabis case

A District Court judge refused to delay a Cork drugs case until March 2027, citing systemic failures in forensic analysis timelines.

Cork judge criticises State over forensic delays in €20,000 cannabis seizure

A District Court judge has refused to push back a suspected drug-dealing case to March 2027, adjourning it instead to December 14 and warning there was "something seriously wrong with the system" if forensic analysis could not be completed in that window, irishexaminer.com reports.

The case centres on Maryanne Hegarty, of Ros Ard Upper, Glanmire, Co Cork, who faces two charges — possession of cannabis and possession for sale or supply — arising from the alleged seizure of €20,000 worth of cannabis at Atkins Hall, Lee Road, Cork, on 19 August.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy had applied for the adjournment to March 2027 to allow time for forensic analysis of the drugs. Judge David Waters rejected that timeline as excessive.

"If the State cannot inspect drugs between now and December 14 there is something seriously wrong with the system, in a case where it is alleged that the quantity is €20,000," Judge Waters said.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis had previously indicated that, despite the absence of directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the scale of the alleged seizure made it unlikely the case would remain at district court level.

Judge Waters has raised concerns in several other drugs cases about the length of time taken for forensic examinations to be carried out.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)