'Very moral' man was growing cannabis and giving it away
AN UNEMPLOYED wood worker who grew cannabis gave away supplies of the drug without looking for payment
AN UNEMPLOYED wood worker who grew cannabis gave away supplies of the drug without looking for payment
The case of 59-year-old James Redmond dated back to a Garda search of his home at Moneydurtlow in Ferns on February 10 last. Officers were brought by the defendant to an outhouse which had been converted to allow cultivation of cannabis.
The building had been insulated and fitted out with strong lights and fans to grow seven plants. In another room, plants were being propagated and a quantity of cannabis herb was seized. The value of the mature plants was put at €1,200 and the herb was worth €500, the court was informed.
Judge Gerard Haughton also took account of the fact that the accused had a previous conviction for cultivation of cannabis, dating back to 2008.
Defending solicitor John O'leary said that his client could not have been more cooperative when the Gardaí called. Redmond suffered from depression and found his home grown remedy more effective than Prozac, said the solicitor.
He had given quantities of the drug to a man who was confined to a wheelchair to deal with pain, without charge. He also gave away some of his crop to a manic depressive.
Mr. O'leary described his client as a deep reader and a very moral person. He offered the court an undertaking not to supply anyone else.
Judge Haughton responded that it was not up to Redmond to decide which laws he would obey. He must expect to face the consequences of his illegal activity. The community service orders imposed for the previous offence did not appear to have served as a deterrent, the judge observed.
The consequences of the latest conviction were a nine-month jail sentence, suspended on the defendant being bound to the peace for two years. An order for destruction of the seized drugs was also handed down.
http://www.enniscorthyguardian.ie 24/1/2012
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