Two young men from Mayo who were arrested in Athlone with over €2,000 worth of drugs and cash for a supposed party, will walk from court in a year’s time without a conviction if they each make a charitable contribution and don’t come to any further Garda attention.
Before the court were Justas Kuksta (19 ), of Rooskeybeg, Claremorris, Co Mayo and Paulius Milasevicius (27 ), Clairmont Manor, Claremorris after both had been stopped and searched by Garda Mark T Lucas at 4.10pm on August 31 on Magazine Road.
Judge Denis McLoughlin heard how the garda discovered five bags of amphetamine sulphate, worth €400, and €990 worth of herbal cannabis on Kuksta, and €800 in cash along with a mobile phone containing a text message which read “I can take €200 worth off you” on his co-defendant Milasevicius.
“They were two foolish men on a foolish errand,” said their solicitor, Ms Michele Mellotte.
She explained how Kuksta was living with his parents and was about to sit the Leaving Cert, and that ex-roofer Milasevicius was “the money behind the exercise”.
“They’re here with some contrition. They co-operated and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity,” said Ms Mellotte.
“There’s a huge sense of remorse and acknlowledgement of their crime. This was a ridiculous project,” she said.
Judge McLoughlin was not convinced.
“Had they not been caught by gardai, they could’ve gone on and on and on,” he said.
“I believe it [the score] was for a party, judge,” said Ms Mellotte.
After some thought, Judge McLoughlin adjourned the case until June 1, 2011 and ordered both defendants to make a €750 contribution to the local Open Door project in lieu of a fine.
“If there’s no further action I will give them the benefit of the Probation Act on that date,” he said.
