A 28-year-old city man was given a suspended sentence and €500 fine at Galway District Court after pleading guilty to a drug dealing offence.
Daniel King (28 ), 143 Cluain Riocaird, Headford Road, Galway, was found in possession of five small bags containing €180 worth of cannabis following a search of his house on April 25 last, which he admitted were for sale to others.
Inspector Pat McHugh said that, while this was King’s first offence and the amount involved was small, gardaí were concerned that drugs paraphernalia, such as a weighing scales and grinder, were also found during the search.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said his client was an unemployed carpenter who came from Clifden originally. He said his client was making no money from the cannabis and was going to London to look for work soon.
Judge Mary Fahy asked if the Gardai accepted King was no longer involved in drugs.
Inspector McHugh said the accused was not know to gardaí before this offence and the amount involved was small. It was the paraphernalia, he added, that made it serious.
Judge Fahy convicted and fined King €500 - to be taken from bail money lodged in court - and she imposed a three-month prison sentence which she suspended for 12 months.
