Mayo man who hid €14k worth of cocaine in toolbox gets suspended jail sentence

A man hid over €14,000 worth of cannabis in a toolbox before gardaí searched his home.

Matthew Brock, aged 33, Hillbrook, Cloghans, Ballina, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for the purpose of supply.

The court was told that gardaí searched Brock’s home on July 1, 2021.

When they searched a shed they discovered a quantity of cannabis in a toolbox.

The value of the drugs was €14,002. Weighing scales were also found at the property.

Brock made certain admissions when arrested. He claimed he was storing the drugs to pay off a debt which included €300 for a boiler repair.

Barrister Mr. Brendan McDonagh, representing Brock, said what little financial gain there was for his client went on his drug habit and paying off his debt.

The court heard Brock became addicted to cannabis at 16, and while he has reduced his cannabis intake significantly, he continues to use the drug.

The defendant has previous convictions for road traffic matters.

Judge Eoin Garavan said the man was “not the worst individual to come before the court."

However, he stated that Brock appears to minimise his crime.

The judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered Brock to carry out 200 hours of community service.

He was also instructed to undergo addiction counselling and seek employment.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.