This article is from page 17 of the 2012-12-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A MAN who grew cannabis plants at his home in Crusheen to supplement his income has been ordered to make a contribution to charity.
John Nolan (35), with an address at Scalpnagoon, Ballinruan, Crusheen, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Mr Nolan pleaded guilty cultivating cannabis plants contrary to the misuse of drugs act. The charge relates to the discovery of 15 cannabis plants at Scalpnagoon, Ballinruan, Crusheen on October 20 (2010).
The court heard that the plants had an estimated value of € 6000.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case on a plea of guilty only. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction of the case.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardai found 15 plants growing in an upstairs room. The court heard that Mr Nolan told gardaí that he grew the plants to supplement his income after he fell into financial difficulty.
Insp Kenendy said Mr Nolan has no previous convictions and was very cooperative and forthcoming with gardaí. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client had worked solidly as a stonemason until work “suddenly turned off” a number of years ago.
He said Mr Nolan had been a cannabis smoker. Mr Casey said his client was “mucking around on the internet” when he found out how to grow cannabis.
Mr Casey added, “He has stopped now. This has put intense pressure on him. He recently became a new father.”
Mr Casey said his client had offered an early plea and is keen to start afresh and end this part of his life.
Inspector Kennedy said he could not disagree with what Mr Casey said about Mr Nolan. He told the court that the plants would not have been fully developed at the time.
Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a “serious matter” as outlined by the view taken by the DPP that the case could only be dealt with in the district court on a guilty plea only.
He added, “This is a matter where a 12 month sentence could be imposed.” Noting the early guilty plea and the circumstances outlined by Mr Casey, Judge Durcan described Mr Nolan as someone who is “very unlikely to re-offend.”
He ordered him to pay € 500 to the court box. Judge Durcan said if this was done by April 10, 2013, he would strike out the charges against Mr Nolan.