Harry Quirk: Lane Cove man sentenced over cocaine possession

A finance worker who left school with top marks and excellent sporting achievements has fallen foul of the law after he was busted with cocaine on a night out.

An up-and-comer in the finance world, who received a mark of 96 in his ATAR and came 22nd in the state in HSC English, was slammed by a magistrate after he was busted with cocaine on a night out gone terribly wrong.

Lane Cove man Harry Quirk spent his 24th birthday in front of a magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

According to documents tendered to court, Quirk was busted with 0.57 grams of cocaine about 7:30pm during a night out in Paddington.

On June 6, police were patrolling Oxford St with sniffer dogs and entered Paddo Inn, a court heard.

When the dogs entered this pub, Quick became “highly anxious and nervous”, agreed police facts state.

Harry Quirk leaving Downing Centre Local Court.

“(Quirk’s) mannerisms included grabbing his pant pockets and moving items in his pockets,” police facts state.

Quirk was searched by police and they found a small resealable bag in his wallet containing 0.57 grams of cocaine, a court heard.

In court, Quirk’s defence lawyer Gregory Goold said his client’s actions were characteristic of someone who was both “naive and shocked”.

Mr Goold said Quirk would be profoundly affected by pleading guilty, seeing a lawyer, learning more about where drugs came from and going to court.

“His journey has been one of enlightening — learning about the use of drugs and the impact they have on him … the drastic impacts on his career, not being able to obtain a (finance) licence,” Mr Goold said.

The court also heard Quirk was a “good student” and “excellent sportsman” who went into the finance industry straight after finishing his university studies.

Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis told Quirk he was only going to receive “one chance” and was “not made for the criminal underworld”.

“You are not invincible and you have had every benefit life has got … you finished the HSC with a 96 ATAR — who does that and goes on to use cocaine,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter which industry you are in, I’m cognisant of the fact the financial services industry has all these professors who think they know better … (but) you only get one chance at this, one chance.

“You came 22nd in the state in English, so you understand the words I’m using … (you have) had a real fall from grace.”

But Mr Tsavdaridis also said Quirk’s early guilty plea, lack of criminal record and good behaviour augur well for his prospects of rehabilitation.

For his offence, Quirk was found guilty but he was not convicted. Instead he was sentenced to a three year conditional release order which will expire on September 13, 2025.