Sentencing of four men over €31m West Cork drug haul delayed by solicitors dispute

Sentencing in one of the country’s biggest ever drug hauls — the seizure of €31m worth of cocaine at Courtmacsherry last summer — could not go ahead  last Wednesday because of the resignation of Cork solicitors from the criminal legal aid scheme.

On exactly one year to the day since the massive seizure was made, prosecution senior counsel Donal O’Sullivan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that four men were in custody and were awaiting sentence.

A two-hour elaboration on the background to the case was to have been given by the prosecution, including a PowerPoint presentation.

However, in light of the resignation of solicitors from the legal aid scheme, the four accused men were left without legal representation; so Mr O’Sullivan, on behalf of the prosecution, applied for sentencing to be adjourned.

Judge Dermot Sheehan adjourned the case until October 28, when it is anticipated that a further date will be set for the sentencing hearing.

The four men — from Scotland, England, and Germany — have already confirmed signed pleas of guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to serious drugs charges in respect of the 440 kilos of cocaine.

Mark Doherty, aged 40, of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland; 31-year-old Levent Gulay, of SchwabenstraBe, Neu Ulm, Bavaria, Germany; 44-year-old Christopher Hibbett, of Lower Park, Trissillian, Truro, Cornwall, England; and 39-year-old Ben Sandford of Woodgreen, Drumm Rd, Keith, Moray, Scotland, all pleaded guilty to charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including the count of possession of more than €13,000 worth of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply.

The €13,000 figure is the threshold for a possible minimum sentence of 10 years, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and up to life imprisonment.

They also all confessed to importing the cocaine at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, on July 1, 2025.

All four also admitted possession of an article in connection with the commission of a crime on the same day.

Doherty and Gulay pleaded guilty to possession of mobile phones in connection with the commission of a crime, while Sandford and Hibbett both confessed to possession of a rigid inflatable boat in connection with the commission of a crime.

Various reports, including probation or prison governor’s reports, were previously sought by senior counsel Jane Hyland, Ray Boland, Alice Fawsett, and Elizabeth O’Connell, respectively, for defendants Doherty, Sandford, Hibbett, and Gulay.