Man with 39 cannabis plants avoids jail

Man found with 39 cannabis plants avoids jail


A KNOCKMORE man found to be cultivating cannabis plants at his home has received a suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Court. Cannabis with an estimated street value of just shy of €8,000 was discovered in the home of Richard Forde of Lisaniska, Knockmore, Ballina on September 27, 2008. Forde denied that he was dealing in the drug, stating it was all for his own personal use.
Detective Garda SineΡd Caheny told the court that a search of Forde’s home found 25 large cannabis plants growing in a tent inside one room with a further 14 smaller plants and eight cuttings in a separate room. Each room was equipped with lighting, a heater and a fan to stimulate growth.
Digital weighing scales were also found along with a quantity of cannabis resin. In total Mayo Gardaí estimated the street value of all the cannabis plants in the house to be €7,990.
Counsel for the defence, Eoin Garavan Junior Counsel, instructed by Lynda Lenehan of Egan Daughter and Co, told the court that Forde, now aged 32, had now stopped taking drugs and had also stopped binge drinking. Judge Raymond Groarke said there was a ‘great temptation’ to take a sterner view but that he wasn’t sure it was fair to make an example of Forde.
In total Forde received a three year sentence, suspended entirely. Forde was bound to keep the peace for three years. A destruction order was made in respect of the drugs discovered.