A young man was told at Galway District Court that his opportunity to travel for work or pleasure could be greatly curtailed if he had a drug conviction on his record.
However, Judge Edward Carroll told the defendant, Sean Lydon, 65 Castlepark, Ballybane, that he could avoid this situation if he made a contribution to the court poor box.
The court was told on January 12 last that members of the Drugs Unit searched a residence, and a small quantity of cannabis was discovered.
Lydon pleaded guilty to possession of the drug, which, it was accepted, was for his own personal use. He was fully cooperative with the arresting Gardaí and pleaded guilty to the offence. He had no previous conviction, the Judge was told.
Judge Carroll informed the defendant, who represented himself, that a conviction of any kind involving illegal drugs would impact his ability to apply for visas and to work abroad.
He said he could impose a conviction and a fine or give him a chance, and was opting for the latter.
As the quantity of cannabis found was valued at €140, he said he would double this to €280, and if this amount was paid to the court poor box he would not impose a conviction.
The defendant was given two weeks to make the donation, and if he hadn’t made it by July 8 then he would be getting a conviction, with all that entailed, and a fine of €300.
