Man was growing cannabis for ceremony

A West Cork man’s home was raided the day before his civil partnership ceremony and gardaí found cannabis being grown for the celebrations.

Kenneth Murphy, aged 42, was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing yesterday following his plea of guilty to a charge of cultivating cannabis without a licence at Rossmore in Clonakilty, Co Cork, on Nov 17, 2011.

Ray Boland, defending, applied for an adjournment of sentencing yesterday for Murphy, of Sliabh Dubh, Ardea, Dunmanway, to provide urinalysis to confirm his contention that he is no longer using cannabis.

Judge Patrick J Moran adjourned sentencing until Apr 30.

Detective Sergeant Fergal Foley said 21 plants were found in a padlocked shed in two tents equipped with heating, lighting and irrigation for the cultivation of cannabis.

The detective said the drugs would have been for Murphy, his male partner, and their friends.

Det Sgt Foley said: “Their ceremony was about to take place the following day, they were hoping to have the product for the civil partnership ceremony the following day.”

Character evidence was given on Murphy’s behalf to the effect that he was a diligent, hard-working dairy farmer with 100 dairy cows and 100 other cattle.

Murphy said he planned to sell 35 acres of the farm and that he and his partner wanted to run a bed and breakfast outside Barcelona.

Det Sgt Foley expressed concerns that Murphy still had a drug problem.

Murphy said he had stopped taking drugs.

Judge Moran asked him when he had stopped. He replied: “Two weeks ago.”