High electricity use led to haul of cannabis plants

AN excessive amount of electricity usage at a house in Tubbercurry led to the finding of 20 cannabis plants growing in the bedroom of a house, Sligo Circuit Court was told.

When Gardaí carried out a search of the house at Mountain View they discovered that the householder had ran electricity cables from a vacant house next door into his property.

Before the court was Francis Gallagher ( 37) of 28 Mountain View who admitted cultivating cannabis at his home on May 1st 2015.

Ms Dara Foynes BL ( prosecuting) with State Solicitor said an electricity supplier became aware of an excessive amount of electricity being consumed at the defendant’s home and an adjoining house which was unoccupied.

When employees attended at the houses they got a strong smell coming from number 27 and 28 Mountain View.

Gardaí were subsequently contacted and when they carried out a search they discovered a cannabis growing set- up in a upstairs bedroom at number 28.

The bedroom was sealed off and there were hanging lights there which were being powered with cables brought in from next door.

The 20 cannabis plants were mature and had a potential street value of € 16,000.

Gallagher told Gardaí after his arrest that the plants had been growing for two months.

He said he was a user of cannabis and that this had been an experiment.

He had bought the seeds in a shop in Galway and his plan was to smoke the cannabis himself.

Mr Keith O’Grady BL ( defending) with Mr Morgan Coleman, Solicitor, said it could be argued that the valuation of each plant could be as low as € 400.

Mr O’Grady said Gallagher had made a full admission.

He was separated with one child and had a severe alcohol proble,.

“Alcohol is an issue here, no question about that and he has had residential treatment in the past for this,” said Mr O’Grady who told Judge Keenan Johnson that the defendant was drinking at the moment.

Gallagher told the court he was attending AA meetings.

“I broke out yesterday with the court coming up. It’s been on and off,” he said.

Judge Johnson said that cannabis was a scourge on society and he could impose a custodial sentence but that he was satisfied this was an isolated event in this case.

The Judge imposed a three years sentence, suspended for four years.

It was ordered that he be placed under the supervision of the probation service, that he engage with the mental health services, remain alcohol free and continue to attend AA meetings.

“You are getting an opportunity to get your house in order and I hope you take it and rehabilitate yourself,” said the Judge.