Courts

Drug dealer who planned to sell cocaine at Kinsale 7s rugby tournament avoids jail

Mamadi Sialou (21) sentenced to 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison

Commissioned by The Irish TIMES
Public order signs were erected on the approach to Kinsale ahead of the rugby 7s tournament after a judge described the event as a 'snowfest'. Photograph: John Allen/Provision
David Forsythe
Thu Jan 16 2025 - 16:02

A man caught in possession of more than 50 bags of cocaine while driving to a rugby event in Kinsale, Co Cork has pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Bandon District Court heard that Mamadi Sialou (21), of Cedarwood Drive, Castle Heights, Carrigaline, Co Cork, was stopped at a garda checkpoint in Belgooly near Kinsale on May 5th last.

Det Garda Colin O’Mahony said it was a very busy weekend in the area because the Kinsale 7s rugby event was being held nearby.

He told the court a grey BMW car heading towards Kinsale approached the checkpoint at about 5pm. When gardaí spoke to the driver, identified as Sialou, he appeared to be very nervous.

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Following initial questioning a search was carried out and Sialou was found to have 49 bags of suspected cocaine concealed in two “pots” in his trousers and another two bags were discovered behind one of the car’s sun visors.

Det Garda O’Mahony said 33 grammes of cocaine with an estimated value of €2,310 was found.

Sialou made “full and frank admissions” about his intention to sell the drugs for €70 per gramme at the Kinsale 7s event. He said he was selling the drugs because he had got into a drug debt.

Defence solicitor Myra Dineen said that Sialou was a second-year automotive technology and management student at Munster Technological University. She said her client lived with his mother and sister in Carrigaline and his mother was “horrified” to hear what had happened.

Ms Dineen told the court that a conviction would be “a disaster” for Sialou, who has no previous convictions. She said got into company “that wasn’t good for him” when aged between 18 and 21.

Judge King convicted Sialou and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison.

A judge in 2023 ordered that signage to be erected in Kinsale before the rugby tournament to warn attendees against engaging in antisocial behaviour, particularly drug taking. Bandon District Court Judge James McNulty said the event had in the past been a “snowfest”.