This article is from page 2 of the 2014-03-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A COTTAGE industry in the cultivation of cannabis seems to be forming in West Clare according to a District Court Judge.
Judge Patrick Durcan made the comments during the case of a 44year-old man who appeared before him charged with growing six cannabis plants in his Tullycrine home.
Stephen McMinn of Tullycrine, Kilrush pleaded guilty to the cul- tivation of cannabis plants without a licence contrary to Section 17 of Misuse of Drug Act 1977 and the unlawful possession of a controlled drug contrary to Section 3 and Section 27 (as amended by section 6) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984.
The court heard that on May 23 gardaí searched the defendant’s home in the presence of his wife and discovered six potted plants.
Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir told the court that he was growing the plants for his own recreational use.
“He is on social welfare and doesn’t have the money to go out at night and grows it as a pastime,” she said.
She added that he no longer smokes the drug and was “not a man typically involved” in this crime.
“It was more of an experiment,” she said.
Judge Durcan questioned if this did not make the issue more serious.
“You seem to have a bit of a cottage industry here in Clare,” he said to Gardaí.
“There is a bit of it,” replied pros- ecuting Garda Supt Seamus Nolan.
“More than a bit,” replied the judge.
The superintendent pointed out that there were a number of similar cases before the court.
“You don’t have a poitín problem down here?” queried Judge Durcan.
“More sale and supply,” replied the Garda Superintendent.
He added that it was “not something we take lightly.”
The judge ordered a probation report for Mr McMinn for May 20.