Young man (20) who sold cannabis that he grew in his bedroom avoids jail
A young Bray man described as a 'novice, budding drug dealer' for selling cannabis from plants he had grown in his bedroom has avoided being sent to prison.
Lee O'Brien (20) of Old Court Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow – who is also known as Lee Gummerson – pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
Detective Garda Mark Colgan told a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court that cannabis worth €1,183 was discovered in a search of the accused's home on April 10, 2024.
The court heard five cannabis plants worth €4,000 were also found in O'Brien's bedroom during the search.
Although the accused claimed the cannabis was for his personal use, Det Sgt Colgan said weighing scales were also found in the property.
He said O'Brien told gardaí that he was feeding his own addiction that had developed after he had started consuming cannabis when was aged around 13-14.
Judge John Martin noted that the accused was 'making a monkey' out of a probation report on him given his stance that he was never involved in dealing drugs.
However, Det Garda Colgan said he believed O'Brien was 'not a high street dealer' but someone selling the drug 'among his mates.'
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Justin McQuade BL, he confirmed that the accused had not come to Garda attention again since his arrest.
The court heard O'Brien, who lived in the house with his mother, had no previous convictions and had cooperated with gardaí.
His mother, Denise O'Brien, gave evidence that she had noticed her son change a few years previously when he had become 'quieter'. She told the court that he had since given up cannabis and all tobacco products completely and had 'become more responsible.'
Judge John Martin accepted that the volume of drugs involved in the offence was low.
He observed that the accused did not have 'a wise head on young shoulders' and claimed he seemed to have been 'a novice, budding drug dealer.'
The judge said O'Brien had not fully cooperated with gardaí as he had denied any involvement in drug dealing. However, he accepted that the young man was addicted to cannabis at the time.
Sentencing O'Brien to 15 months in prison, Judge Martin said he would suspend the sentence in full for a period of two and a half years.
He directed that O'Brien should place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for the suspended period and remain drug-free and provide clear urine analyses when requested.
Stock image: Getty
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