Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAN HAD STUN GUN & DRUGS
25-year-old avoids jail after discovery at home
A MAN who admitted dealing cannabis and possessing a stun gun was spared jail yesterday.
Saying she was giving Macauley George Mckinney “one final opportunity”, Judge Donna Mccolgan made the 25-year-old the subject of a three-year probation order.
Mckinney was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and possessing a prohibited weapon.
From Willowfield Walk in the east of the city, the charges arose after the accused’s home was searched by police on November 15, 2019. During the raid, 280 grams of herbal cannabis were located along with drug dealing paraphernalia and £3,282.58.
A stun gun was also found in the attic. Mckinney was arrested and he made full admissions of guilt during a police interview. As she sentenced the defendant, Judge Mccolgan branded his criminal record as “lengthy”, adding the offences “were for financial gain”.
The judge said that after reading defence submissions, it was clear Mckinney had a “most unsatisfactory upbringing, mostly as a result inadequate parenting”, which has led to long-term problems with anxiety. She added Mckinney now has no contact with a “previous peer group with whom he associated his offending” and is in a “positive relationship”. Revealing that Probation are willing to work with the defendant because of these matters, Judge Mccolgan said: “I am therefore prepared to give him one final opportunity to turn his life around.”
Judge Mccolgan told Mckinney to comply with any programmes deemed suitable by Probation - and warned that any failure to comply with the order would result in “an alternative term of imprisonment”. A destruction order was granted for the items found during the search, while the money located was donated to Cancer Research.
I am prepared to give him one final opportunity JUDGE DONNA MCCOLGAN YESTERDAY