A married father of two who had €7,200 worth of cannabis plants growing in his house, was given a suspended sentence at Castlebar District Court this week.
Earlier in the year the residence at 10 Waterside, Ballinrobe, was searched for drugs. This was the home of Mariusz Latowski. A sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation was discovered in an upstairs bedroom — there was a cannabis growing tent, lamps, fans, and thermometers. Eighteen cannabis plants were seized, as was the paraphernalia.
The 30-year-old Polish man, who has been living in Ireland for seven and a half years, admitted that the cannabis was for his own use only. According to his solicitor Cathy McDarby the defendant grew his own drugs as he did not want to continue buying drugs from people. Ms McDarby said that Latowski never smoked in front of his four- and two-year-old children, and the children thought the cannabis plants were flowers.
The defendant has no previous convictions.
Judge Mary Devins said that it was “really extremely worrying” that two little children were running around the house and could have gained access to the cannabis plants.
Judge Devins adjourned the case to December 21 for a probation report.
At this week’s sitting a probation report was handed into the court. Latowski told the court that he is now not using drugs.
Judge Devins convicted and fined him €500 and sentenced him to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. The judge also granted a destruction order for the drugs.
