Man caught with fully grown cannabis plants had gone through 'difficult separation'

A man who was growing cannabis in his back garden has been referred to the restorative justice programme by Nenagh District Court.

Mariusz Gabriel, 43, of 15 The Glen, Millersbrook, Nenagh, pleaded to cultivation and possession of cannabis at Millersbrook on March 26, 2022.

The court heard that the home was searched under a warrant and 12 fully grown cannabis plants were found in the garden. The plants had a street value of €9,000.

Mr Gabriel also pleaded to possession of cannabis with a street value of €20 on the same occasion.

The court was told that the defendant told the gardaí that he had been drying out the leaves to see what happens.

Mr Mariusz’s solicitor, Liz McKeever, told the court that her client had been going through a “difficult family law separation” at the time.

She said that her client had been taking cannabis at the time as he had a bad knee.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath accepted Ms McKeever’s suggestion that Mr Mariusz be referred to the restorative justice programme and adjourned the case to July 21 to see if he were a suitable candidate.