Twice with drugs in 2 hours

Gardaí searched a house in Passage West, Co Cork, and found cannabis plants in two bedrooms. At the scene, the owner confessed to the crime, but two hours later gardaí stopped him driving at nearby Rochestown and found more cannabis in his car.

Garda Mark Lawton testified yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Eoin Crotty, aged 33, of 82 Ardmore Estate, Passage West, had admitted at his home on July 18, 2013, that he was responsible for nine plants found growing in two bedrooms.

When cautioned, he admitted supplying cannabis to one other person but claimed the vast majority of it was for his own use.

Crotty was not arrested on that occasion. A few hours later, around midnight, Garda Lawton encountered Crotty a second time, driving his car at Rochestown Road. There was a quantity of cannabis in the car and he admitted it was for his own use.

Although he was caught twice within a couple of hours, the defendant had not come to the attention of gardaí in the 18 months since.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a sentencing totalling two years’ imprisonment, suspended.

Roger Pope, defending, said: “He is fully remorseful for what has occurred. He is in the process of full-time employment.”

Mr Pope said the cannabis growing was at a very small scale.

Judge Ó Donnabháin told Crotty: “I accept the cultivation was amateurish and there is no evidence that you gained financially from this.

“You have not come to the attention of gardaí since.”

On the cultivation charge, Judge Ó Donnabháin imposed a one-year sentence. On the charge of having the drug for sale or supply he imposed a two-year term, both sentences concurrent and both suspended.

In terms of the possibility of any future offending, the judge warned Crotty he would be putting himself at risk and playing with his own liberty.

The accused was also ordered to comply with the directions of the Probation Service for one year.

Garda Lawton said he had gone to the defendant’s home with a warrant and found nine cannabis plants, with a total street value of €7,200, growing in two upstairs bedrooms.

Within hours, at Rochestown Rd they found over €500 worth of cannabis herb in the same man’s car.

Crotty admitted cultivating the drugs and having them for sale or supply.

Garda Lawton told Mr Pope during cross-examination that no drug-dealing paraphernalia, such as weighing scales, was found during the house search.