Pensioner on cannabis for shingles pain had plants worth €11,200 in his garden

Accused suffered from neuralgia as a result of shingles, with 'sharp, shocking pains', and started growing cannabis when CBD oil proved too expensive, court heard

Martyn Prince, of Inchacurka, Dunmanway, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to cultivation of the plants, as well as possession of cannabis herb worth €650 and a small amount of cannabis resin worth €26.40. File picture: Getty

A pensioner who said he used cannabis to deal with the pain sparked by shingles has pleaded guilty to cultivating plants with a potential street value of €11,200 in his garden.

Martyn Prince, of Inchacurka, Dunmanway, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to cultivation of the plants, as well as possession of cannabis herb worth €650 and a small amount of cannabis resin worth €26.40.

The 67-year-old’s property was the subject of a search under warrant by Detective Garda Shannon Ryan on September 3, 2022, during which the 14 mature cannabis plants were found in Mr Prince’s garden.

Mr Prince, who is originally from the UK, made full admissions to gardaí about the plants and the other drugs located on his property, and on August 28 last he was arrested by arrangement and interviewed.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said on full maturity the plants found in Mr Prince’s garden had a potential street value of €11,200. 

Judge James McNulty was also told Mr Prince had five previous convictions — three for road traffic offences and two for simple possession of drugs.

Mr Prince’s solicitor, Eamonn Fleming, said gardaí accepted his client was growing the plants for his own use and that he was fully cooperative.

Mr Fleming said Mr Prince suffered from neuralgia as a result of shingles, with “sharp, shocking pains”. The court heard Mr Prince had shingles in 2021 and 2022 and, with his partner, cares for their adult child, who has a disability.

The court heard Mr Prince had lived in Ireland for 35 years but was now considering returning to Cambridge in England. Mr Fleming said his client had used conventional medication to try and deal with the neuralgia, and then started buying CBD oil, which he found to be too expensive, before then growing cannabis to treat the pain.

Judge McNulty commented that Mr Prince’s previous drugs convictions were before his shingles and Mr Fleming said: “It’s a hands-up situation”, adding his client had suffered from a lot of difficulties throughout his life.

“I wonder what his doctor would say about the weed?” the judge said. “I wonder would he recommend it?” 

On the possession of the drugs, he convicted Mr Prince, fining him €200 for possession of the cannabis resin and sentencing him to 30 days in prison for the possession of the cannabis herb.

On the cultivation charge, the judge sentenced him to 90 days in prison, but with both prison sentences suspended for two years on Mr Prince’s own bond of €1,000, no cash required.