Found growing cannabis plants in his bedroom
A MAN found with cannabis plants growing in a bedroom at his house had “never so much as picked up a penalty point” in his life before, a court heard.
Mark Anderson had two plants and loose cannabis worth more than €1,700 in the house when it was searched by gardai.
Blanchardstown District Court
The 39-year-old father-of-three pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis at his then home at Brownsbarn Wood, Naas Road on February 25 last year.
The accused, with an address at Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin, had his case adjourned at Blanchardstown District Court for a restorative justice programme report.
Garda Ciaran O’Neill told Judge David McHugh a search was conducted at the address at Brownsbarn Wood and two cannabis plants were located in an upstairs room.
There was also a quantity of loose cannabis found and the drugs had a combined value of €1,728.
Anderson had “zero previous convictions” and “hasn’t come to any garda attention before,” Garda O’Neill said. The circumstances of the finding of the cannabis were “quite unique,” defence solicitor Sandra Frayne said.
“In fairness to Mr Anderson, he’s never so much as picked up a penalty point in his life,” Ms Frayne said.
He had a cannabis habit from the age of 16 and while he did not excel in school he had done very well in his industry afterwards and his habit “never affected him in his ability to do his job properly”.
The accused is looking after his three children on his own “in very difficult circumstances” at the moment.
He had to sell the house he previously lived in in this charge, Ms Frayne said.
“He hasn’t touched cannabis since this,” she said. Anderson’s life had changed completely as a result of circumstances beyond his control, which had nothing to do with this case, Ms Frayne said.
“He will never abuse cannabis again,” she added.
Judge McHugh told the accused to take part in a restorative justice programme and adjourned the case to April 29 for a report.
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