Man 'fascinated' by cannabis growth had over €17,000 worth of the drug

Gardai found €17,250 worth of cannabis in a Ramelton house after a strong scent of the drug was detected on the street.

Letterkenny Circuit Court heard that Nicholas Hanlon was ‘fascinated’ with the growth of cannabis plants.

Hanlon was sentenced to 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to the cultivation of cannabis.

Detective Garda Paddy Kelly told Ms Patricia McLaughlin, prosecuting, that a search warrant was obtained and a search carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Hanlon’s home at Wheelie Lea, Pound Street, Ramelton on July 27, 2021.

Garda detected a strong smell of cannabis upon entering the premises and immediately cautioned Hanlon.

In the house, Hanlon led Gardai to two rooms. In one room were six matured cannabis plants, each valued at €800. In another room were 15 jars containing dried cannabis, each of which was worth €830.

Officers also found a grinder, weighing scales and other associated paraphernalia.

Hanlon admitted growing cannabis and told Gardai that, while he was a regular cannabis user, he was not engaged in the sale or supply of the drug.

Detective Garda Kelly said Hanlon was ‘fully candid’ and said in an interview that he was fascinated by the process of growing the plants.

“It was a labour of love for him,” Detective Garda Kelly said.

Barrister for Hanlon, Mr Ciaran O’Rourke BL, said his client was ‘in over his head with the plants’.

Mr O’Rourke told the court that his client started smoking cannabis when he was 14 or 14, he left school in second year and did not attain State examinations. Hanlon, his barrister said, had always engaged in work, but was currently unemployed.

“He is deeply ashamed of what happened,” Mr O’Rourke said. “He is taking positive steps to change his lifestyle. This is out of proportion with the man and what he was intending.”

Mr O’Rourke said the cannabis could be smelled on the street and Hanlon had not gone to great lengths to conceal the activity.

The Probation Service considered Hanlon as being of a moderate risk of reoffending.

Three references were handed into the court on Hanlon’s behalf - one from a local peace commission and two from members of the Ramelton Tidy Towns committee.

Judge John Aylmer said that all the evidence was consistent with a man who was ‘fascinated by the process of cultivating these plants’. There was no suggestion, he said, that this was a commercial operation.

“All the indications are that he was growing these plants for his own use or to share with friends,” Judge Aylmer said.

He said the offence was at the lower end of the scale and was not one which would merit a custodial sentence.

Before taking into account mitigation, Judge Aylmer said the starting point was 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months imprisonment.

Judge Aylmer said Hanlon, a father of two adult children and a grandfather of one, had no relevant previous convictions and he had tendered the earliest possible guilty plea. He said Hanlon was clearly remorseful and believed the accused had learned his lesson.

Judge Aylmer sentenced Hanlon to 160 hours of community service in lieu of an eight-month prison sentence. Hanlon will be placed under the supervision of the Probation Service and has been given 12 months to complete the order.