A 23-year-old man who threw a bag of cannabis on the ground while he was being searched for drugs, was convicted at Castlebar District Court this week.
David Gibbons, 18 Cloonmonad Close, Westport, was searched under the misuse of drugs act by Garda John Melia on July 28 2010 at 9.05pm. The garda had observed the defendant get out of a car at Mayo Movie World, as Gibbons walked towards the garda, the garda felt that the defendant was acting anxiously and then searched him. Gibbons was observed to throw a bag from his right pocket onto the ground and stand on it. After Gibbons moved on the garda picked it up. Gibbons denied that it was his.
The defendant, who has no previous drug related convictions, is a carer for his uncle and mother.
Judge Mary Devins said that for a first drugs offence for cannabis she would normally apply the probation act, however she would only do this now if those before court on their first offence tell gardaí where they bought the drugs. Gibbons would not do this and was convicted and fined €50.
