‘Hard-working’ Mayo man (21) pleads guilty to drugs charge

A 21-year-old Ballina man has appeared before Castlebar District Court on a drugs charge.

Ben Moral, of Friars Court, Killala Road, Ballina, pleaded guilty to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Sergeant John O’Reilly informed the court that on March 14, 2025, Garda Padden observed a black Volkswagen Passat travelling towards the Newport Road in Westport and failing to indicate.

The vehicle was followed onto the Castlebar Road and Distillery Road, where gardaí pulled it over.

An insurance discrepancy was noted, and the driver appeared nervous.

The defendant was searched, and when asked if he had anything in his possession that he should not have, he produced a number of small clear sealed bags containing a white powder, later confirmed to be cocaine, from the glovebox.

The estimated value of the drugs was €443.

Defence solicitor Dermot Morahan said his client, originally from Cavan and living in Ballina since 2010, had no previous convictions and had fully cooperated with gardaí.

He said the drugs were in the bags as purchased and described his client as a hard-working young man employed in the restaurant industry, who is dealing with a complex family situation.

An application was made for a probation report.

Ms. Quinlan, for the Probation Service, indicated that such a report would take approximately two months to complete.

Judge Vincent Deane adjourned the matter to July 16 for preparation of the report and for his attention.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.