Solicitor seeks lights-off rule for garda curfew checks on Cork heroin suspect

A Cork solicitor has asked gardaí to switch off patrol car blue lights during nightly curfew checks on a man charged with heroin dealing worth €12,000.

Cork lawyer seeks discreet garda checks on man accused of €12,000 heroin dealing

A solicitor representing a 52-year-old Cork man on bail for alleged heroin dealing has asked gardaí to turn off their patrol car's flashing blue lights when carrying out nightly curfew checks, echolive.ie reports.

Solicitor Joseph Cuddigan told Cork District Court that the arrival of a squad car with its beacon active was unsettling residents in the estate where his client lives. "The squad car arriving at night-time with blue lights flashing is causing problems when the car arrives in the estate, where there are some elderly residents," Cuddigan told Judge David Waters.

Cuddigan asked the judge to direct gardaí to deactivate the lights upon entering Leesdale on Model Farm Road, where the accused, Dominic Smyth, resides at Greenfields.

Judge Waters declined, saying: "I cannot micro-manage the gardaí." He did, however, signal a willingness to act if the matter went unresolved. "I would ask the State to engage with me. Otherwise, I will apply for removal of curfew because of the manner in which it is being operated by gardaí."

Any formal change to Smyth's bail conditions would require a full hearing with witnesses. Cuddigan indicated he would pursue that route only as a last resort. "I won't waste time bringing a bail application if the State can deal with the flashing blue lights," he said.

Smyth, aged 52, faces charges of possession of drugs and possession with intent to supply. Gardaí allege that €12,000 worth of diamorphine — heroin — was found in a car at approximately 9.30pm on 23 February on the M8 motorway at Ballinvinny, Glanmire.

His bail conditions include a curfew between 10pm and 8am, signing on at Togher garda station three days a week, providing a mobile phone number, and a prohibition on leaving the jurisdiction.

Given the alleged value of the drugs involved, Judge Waters refused jurisdiction, meaning the case will be heard at a higher court level. The matter was adjourned until 29 September.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)