Gardaí investigating the death of a teenager from a suspected drug overdose raided a number of houses yesterday and seized a small quantity of cocaine and cannabis.
Up to 40 uniformed and plainclothes officers carried out synchronised searches of six houses in Rathcormac, north Cork as part of a follow-up to the death of 19-year-old Padraig O'Keeffe from a suspected cocaine overdose in the early hours of last Monday.
Gardaí searched six houses, including one in the Páirc na Gréine estate where Mr O'Keeffe had attended a party, after they obtained warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act. They seized a small quantity of cocaine and cannabis.
According to Supt Con Cadogan of Fermoy, who is heading the investigation, the operation was carried out under the auspices of Operation Anvil.
Four files will now be prepared on the seizures for forwarding to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Investigations are continuing to establish the last movements of Mr O'Keeffe and how his body ended up at the side of the road near his home at Moulane, Rathcormac, more than two miles from the house where he had attended the party.
Gardaí are awaiting the results of toxicology tests taken by the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy to establish the exact cause of Mr O'Keeffe's death.
However, they have ruled out foul play in his death and suspect that he may have died from a drugs overdose.
Mr O'Keeffe, who worked locally in the construction industry, is survived by his parents, Jerry and Gretta, brothers Adrian, Brendan, Kenneth and Diarmuid and sisters Karen and Michelle.
His remains will repose at his home at Moulane from 4pm today with removal at 7.30pm to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathcormac. Burial in the local cemetery will follow requiem Mass at 2.30pm on Thursday.