240 hours’ community service in lieu of jail

Drugs squad gardaí uncovered over €5,000 worth of cannabis grown by a man at his home in Allihies, Co Cork, and yesterday he was ordered to do unpaid work in the community instead of going to jail.

Derek Lowes, aged 33, of Reentrisk, Allihies, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to two drugs offences at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Both counts related to a drugs search conducted at his home in Allihies by gardaí with a search warrant on Sept 7, 2011.

Lowes pleaded guilty to possession of the drug and cultivation of it.