A 25-year-old man who was discovered with more than €1,000 worth of drugs in his residence, which he admitted to selling to friends and associates, was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Garda William Grant told the court that he was contacted on November 19 2010 about illegal drug activity at the residence of Thomas Derrig, 15 Victoria Place, Castlebar. The house was searched by gardaí and five bags of cannabis to the value of €1,436.19 were discovered. Derrig admitted to gardaí that he sold drugs.
The court heard that the father of one has 22 previous convictions.
Solicitor Lynda Lenehan said that her client sold the drugs in order to buy Christmas presents.
Judge Conal Gibbons said of the excuse being offered: “I have to say I find it very hard to believe.” Judge Gibbons said that it was not a noble way to finance a noble gesture; that of giving gifts.
Derrig told the court that he sold cannabis as it was “an easy way of making money for Christmas”. He admitted that he had smoked cannabis since he was 15, but said he was no longer using drugs.
Judge Gibbons convicted and sentenced Derrig to 220 hours community service (if a community service assessment found him suitable ) in lieu of nine months in prison.
