Cork man who admitted he was still using cannabis told by judge 'to grasp the nettle and give it up'

Accused charged with possession of €2,400 worth of the drug

Accused pleaded guilty to the charge of having cannabis for his own use. File picture: Getty

A 53-year-old man who admitted charges arising out of the purchase of €2,400 worth of cannabis said he was still smoking the drug but the sentencing judge told him it was time "to grasp the nettle".

Once Mark Tierney, of Evergreen Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to the charges of having cannabis for his own use and having the drug for the purpose of sale or otherwise supplying it, Judge John King said: “Before we go any further is he still using cannabis?” 

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, consulted briefly with the accused and then answered on his behalf: “Very fairly, he says he is.” 

Judge King said he was going to direct the preparation of probation report in advance of sentencing on December 9.

“The probation service can give him help to give it up. He is going to have to grasp the nettle and give it up. If is expecting to get a break he needs to show the court he is clean of drugs. And if he wants to get his life in order he needs to stop using,” Judge King said.

Inspector James O’Donovan said in fairness to the accused there were no trappings of drug-dealing in this case and it was a technical breach in that the supply consisted of his admission that he was sharing the cannabis with one other person.

Insp O’Donovan said the drugs were seized following a search under warrant at the defendant’s home on October 27, 2022.

Mr Kelleher said the drug use stemmed from tragic personal circumstances in the defendant’s life years ago.