Man (38) is sent to prison for selling drugs in city
A man living in Waterford city has ben sent to prison for selling large quantities of cannabis.
Secounda Idara (38), pleaded guilty in October 2025 to a Section 15 charge of possessing controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply.
Originally from Guinea, Idara came to live in Ireland a number of years ago.
At the time of his arrest, he was living at 1 Barrett Court, Doyle Street, Waterford city.
Suspicions arose around Idara after gardaí suspected him to be using social media to sell cannabis in the Waterford area.
On August 13, 2025, gardaí executed a targeted search at the man’s address.
Gardaí at the scene noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the back garden of the property.
A metal door with a padlock at the end of the garden was opened, revealing a small overgrown lot and a metal pipe.
A shopping bag was found within the pipe containing cannabis in individual deal bags and a weighing scale.
The total value of cannabis amounted to €5,400.
Idara was cautioned and brought to Waterford Garda Station.
He initially denied that the cannabis found in the garden belonged to him.
Whilst at the station however, two more deal bags were found in his shoe.
The bags had the same distinct markings and designs as the bags found in the back garden.
Idara continued to deny ownership of the drugs and made no admissions to the sale or supply of cannabis
“I don’t sell drugs, I don’t do drugs,” he told gardaí in his interview.
The man had previously worked at a night porter at a popular hotel in the city. He had 20 previous convictions, all for road traffic matters.
Acting in his defence, Mr. Gareth Hayden BL, said that his client made “misguided” attempts to prove himself innocent to gardaí, and that he needed some guidance to accept full responsibility.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the man displayed an “absence of any real remorse”.
Secounda Idara was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended.
