Caterer gets suspended sentence for making cannabis foods

A middle-aged man in the catering business had a sideline in growing cannabis at home in order to make cannabis cookies, butter, alternative pizzas and wine for friends.

Today he was given a three-year suspended jail sentence for the offence by Judge Patrick J. Moran.

David Flynn, aged 45, of The Thatch, Glantane, County Cork, was sentenced for having the cannabis for supply on January 23 and cultivating cannabis without a licence.

Detective Sergeant Michael Corbett said gardaí acting on confidential information obtained a warrant to search Flynn’s home and when they arrived they met the accused who showed them where he grew the cannabis.

Donal O’Sullivan, defence barrister, said Flynn had a fairly stable life before this incident but that he and his wife were separating at the time.

He had a pizza-making business at one time and another one of the several jobs he did over the years was the operation of a chip van.

The detective accepted that the cannabis grown by the accused and used to make various foods and wine was supplied to friends and there was no question of receiving payment for them.

Instead he would be brought to a friend’s house for a meal or there would be some exchange.