A COMBINED operation involving five Garda districts led to the disruption at the weekend of a rave party in north Cork at which arrangements had been made to sell substantial quantities of drugs.
According to Garda sources, gardai in Fermoy received a tip off at 7 p.m. on Saturday to say that a coach with 70 people on board, ranging in age from 18 to 20 years, was preparing to leave Cork city for a two story house at Ballymacmoy, Killavullen, where the rave was to have taken place.
The house is owned by English people who were not present when gardai mounted their raid. It is understood, however, that relatives of the owners were interviewed by detectives.
After the tip off was received a combined garda effort under Insp Liam Hayes of Fermoy was put into operation. It involved 18 gardai from Cork city, Fermoy, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Castletownroche and Mallow. Before it left Cork, the bus carrying the party goers was placed under surveillance.
In the meantime, gardai obtained a warrant to search the house at Ballymacmoy. There they interviewed a man in possession of over 100 ecstasy tablets as well as more than 100 "deals" of the amphetamine "speed". A quantity, of cannabis resin was also recovered.
The total value of the haul was estimated at about £3,000. The man, who has not been charged, was detained at Fermoy Garda station for 12 hours before being released. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
One member of the garda team told The Irish Times yesterday that the bus was allowed to leave Cork uninterrupted. When it arrived at the house in Ballymacmoy just after midnight, gardai pounced.
They recovered a small quantity of drugs intended for personal use from the bus passengers, whose names and addresses were taken. Each of the 70 party goers was interviewed and it was 4 a.m. before the bus and its occupants were cleared to return to Cork.