Grew cannabis as it was too expensive to buy

A 26-year-old man who admitted to Gardaí he had an addiction to cannabis stated he began growing it because he found it too expensive to buy.

Before Sligo Circuit Court last week for sentencing on charges of having the drug for sale or supply was Thomas Ward of Kilross, Ballygawley. He pleaded guilty to one count relating to a search of the family home on October 23rd 2015 and another premises, a derelict cottage in Geevagh the next day.

Ward was represented by Mr Keith O’Grady BL with Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor while Ms Dara Foynes BL with State Solicitor Mr Hugh Sheridan, prosecuted.

Garda Eamon McDonnell with Ms Foynes recalled how Gardaí obtained warrants to search the home of the defendant at Kilross where he lived with his parents. His father ran a business from the home. The search came on foot of an intelligence led operation said Ms Foynes.

A car at the rear of the home in Kilross was searched and in the boot there was a shoebox containing cannabis herb. There were also three other jars containing cannabis herb in the vehicle. Light fittings, jars and a weighing scales were also found in ajeep.

The defendant returned to the home and he was arrested and subsequently questioned. On the 24 th, cannabis plants were found at a derelict property in Geevagh. Fourteen of the 15 plants were viable and were found growing in baths.

Jars and mobile phones were also found during the search. Ward said he had an addiction to cannabis and was growing if himself as it was too expensive to buy. He admitted giving cannabis to his friends.

Ms Foynes said it was accepted by Gardaí that Ward was not a big player and had not been selling the drug to the general public.

There was a message on a phone from a man asking Ward for a €50 bag worth of cannabis but the defendant said he wasn’t selling to the country and had been selling it just to cover the cost.

He looked up the internet on how to grow the cannabis and bought the equipment in Northern Ireland. The defendant had done some farming and did work in a mart.

Garda McDonnell said the defendant had probably bitten off more than he could chew in that he had grown more than what he was using and he admitted he was selling it to his friends.

Ward had one previous conviction for possession of cannabis and had others for road traffic offences. In reply to Mr O’Grady witness said the potential value of the plants was €800 each and he accepted that some could fail.

Mr O’Grady said the defence would say the cost of each plant was closer to €400.

The defence counsel pleaded that Ward had fully co-operated and that a probation report had suggested a supervisory role.

Judge Keenan Johnson said the defendant could thank the Gardaí that he was apprehended when he was because his life could have spiralled out of control.

The Judge commended Garda McDonnell and his colleagues saying they had done a huge service to the defendant and society and that he was now drug free.

Mr O’Grady agreed the defendant was at a crossroads and that he should be thankful for being caught when he was.

“He is not someone who needs to be taken off the streets as he is not filling the schools with drugs,” said Mr O’Grady.

Judge Johnson said cannabis was often seen as not a serious drug but this was not the case from where he was sitting. Cannabis was anything but a soft drug and was a pathway to harder drugs, he said. Users had a five to seven and a half per cent increased chance of developing schizophrenia in later life.

The case was put back to December 12 th for finalisation with the defendant under continued supervision of the probation service. He must also provide monthly urine analysis. If he remained drug free and co-operated, a 240 hour community service order would be imposed in lieu of a three year jail term.