Man growing cannabis plants worth €17,000

A GALBALLY man who pleaded guilty to the cultivation of cannabis plants valued at approximately €17,000, which were for his own personal use, has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

Seamus Murphy, (55) of Galbally, Ballyhogue, Enniscorthy, pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to the cultivation of cannabis plants on May 8, 2018, at Galbally. He further pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis.

Defence Counsel, Jordan Fletcher, told the court that this was a first offence before the Circuit Court, while Prosecuting Counsel, Ms Sinead Gleeson, said the value of the drugs came to about €17,000.

Mr Fletcher told the court that the defendant admitted in an interview with gardai that the cannabis plants were for his own personal use.

Sgt Heffernan told the court that the defendant had previously pleaded guilty. The defendant’s house was searched by Sgt Pat Casey and Det Garda Stephen Burke on foot of a search warrant.

When the called to the house, the defendant was not at home but his wife was present and allowed the gardai entry. At the rear of the house the gardai discovered 24 cannabis plants along with lighting and cultivation equipment.

In another shed, Sergt. Casey found a blue barrel and weighing scales which was associated with the weighing of the drugs.

The defendant was later arrested and conveyed to Wexford Garda Station where he took full responsibility for the cultivation.

Sgt Heffernan told the court the defendant is a married man with three children and works as a lorry driver.

Mr. Fletcher, Defence Counsel, said the defendant was smoking at the time and rather than buy he decided to grow his own.

Judge O’Donnabhain said the defendant had no previous convictions and he had entered a guilty plea. He said he would sentence the defendant to two years in prison, suspending the sentence in its entirety, on defendant entering a bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. The charge of possession was marked taken into consideration.