This article is from page 16 of the 2013-07-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
SENTENCING has been adjourned in the case of an Ennis man found with cannabis with a street value of € 3900 hidden in a garden hedge.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, John Nihill (25) pleaded guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply at his then home address of 25 The Hawthorns, Limerick Road Ennis.
The court heard that gardaí discovered 15 separate deals along with a larger block of cannabis concealed in the hedge during a search of the premises on September 12 (2012).
Insp Tom Kennedy said the drugs had an estimated value of € 3929. He said Mr Nihill admitted having the drugs for sale or supply.
The father of one has no previous convictions for drugs offence but received a community service earlier this year order for assault causing harm.
Solicitor John Casey said his client had been a heavy user of cannabis at the time the offence was committed. He said Mr Nihill got into debt and it was suggested to him he could pay off this debt by selling drugs for another person.
The court heard the accused was sent to collect money for his “paymaster.”
“He feared for himself, for his partner and his house and those fears would’ve been genuine and realistic,” added Mr Casey.
The court heard the accused has since left Ennis, is fulfilling his community service requirements and has volunteered at the Bushypark treatment centre.
“He did this out of fear. The debt is still there. He didn’t benefit one iota from this,” Mr Casey said.
Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned sentencing for a brief period.
When the case resumed, Judge Durcan said he regarded this offence as being at the upper end of the scale.
He remanded Mr Nihill on continuing bail to appear again in court on September 18 for a pre-sentence probation report.
In recent weeks, Judge Durcan has directed that the Health Services Executive (HSE) be notified when convictions are recorded against parents of young children.
He asked Mr Casey if a report should be sought from the HSE in this case.
Mr Casey said his client is a devoted father and very much involved with his daughter. A report from the HSE was not sought.
Judge Durcan explained that the involvement of the probation services did not necessarily rule out the imposition of a prison sentence.
However he added that Mr Nihill struck him as “thoughtful, serious young man who has fallen into difficulties.”