An Ebay employee with hopes of one day travelling abroad declined to take a drugs test this week, an ironclad condition which had to be met before a judge would concede to a request of not imposing a conviction.
Twenty-one-year-old Adam Symes with an address at 64 Willowbrook Lawns, Celbridge, Kildare, was summoned to appear before Judge Gerard Haughton at Galway District Court last Monday for possession of drugs, namely cannabis, at the Spanish Arch on September 8, 2007.
The court heard that the defendant, who pleaded guilty to the offence, had been arrested on foot of a bench warrant in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
Det Sgt Brendan Carroll told the court that on September 8, 2007, at 7pm a search was carried out and cannabis grass was found on the defendant’s person. He said that the defendant made a full admission that the drug was for his own use. The value of the drug was €50.
The defendant’s solicitor said his client had been in a car crash a few years ago and was still recovering from the injuries sustained in the accident. He added that Symes was currently working with Ebay and that a conviction could affect plans to travel. Symes had brought €300 to pay the court.
After hearing the evidence and the request by the defence solicitor, Judge Haughton put it to the defendant that the drug “can stay in the system for” a few months. He then told Symes to think very carefully as he may require a drug test to be taken before he would consider not imposing a conviction. “Those are my conditions,” added Judge Haughton.
After a few minutes, the defendant declined the offer and was then convicted and fined €100. Recognisance was fixed at €300 with an independent surety of €300.
