A 26-year-old was found in possession of cannabis after the car in which he was a passenger was stopped by a garda.
On July 2 2011 at 2.35am in the area of Sli Ectra, Ballina, Garda John Barrett, who was operating a checkpoint, stopped a car in which Aidan Cawley, 19 Abbeytown, Crossmolina, was a passenger.
Garda Barrett noticed that Cawley acted nervously and the garda thought that he was trying to hide something. A bag of cannabis to the value of €11 was discovered in the passenger door.
Cawley admitted that it was his and for his own use.
John Gordon said that his client was a recovering alcoholic and had heard that cannabis would help him stay sober and purchased it for €5
The unemployed 26-year-old, who has no previous convictions, was directed to pay €75 to Hope House.
