Three-year suspended sentence for possession of cannabis pollen

A Shankill father of one has been given a three-year suspended sentence for possession of cannabis pollen at his home by Judge Katherine Delahunt.

John Kinsella (aged 29) has 17 previous convictions for offences including assault, violent disorder and robbery.

Kinsella, of Rathsallagh Drive, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs at the family home on March 8, 2007.

Judge Delahunt said Kinsella "presented with a significant history of criminal activity" and that he was the only member of his family to have ever been in trouble.

She accepted that Kinsella had indicated at the sentence hearing that he wished to get out of his cycle of drug addiction and said a probation report before the court showed that he had since come off heroin and has not come to the attention of gardai since.

Judge Delahunt said the report also indicated that Kinsella had shown positive steps to improving his life before she suspended the entirety of the sentence on condition that he continues with his drug treatment.

Garda Jean Ennis told Mr Dominic McGinn BL, prosecuting, that the house was searched following a garda surveillance operation and cannabis pollen with a street value of €2,521 was found in Kinsella's bedroom.

Garda Ennis said cannabis pollen was similar to cannabis resin but had a higher street value.

Kinsella admitted responsibility for the drugs and said sold it to friends to make money to feed his own habit.

Defence counsel, Mr Justin McQuade BL, said Kinsella was a chronic drug addict who came from a decent family in Shankill. He said Kinsella had a "new found responsibility" after the birth of his child this year.

Mr McQuade said Kinsella had been in and out of institutions since he was 18 years old but has made positive changes in his life recently and asked the court to give him a chance to demonstrate his new found motivation