Man brought drugs into Laois garda station

A man was caught with unprescribed drugs at a Laois garda station when he attended to sign on as part of his bail conditions. 

Johnny Nevin (24) of 21 Grove Park, Mountmellick, admitted having 26 Xanax tablets at Portlaoise Garda Station on January 26, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby explained that the defendant had presented to sign on for bail when gardai noticed a strong smell of cannabis and searched him.  He said they found 26 Xanax tablets for which the defendant had no prescription. 

Sgt Kirby said the defendant has a number of minor road traffic convictions and one for sale or supply of drugs. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client had been subject to “of a serious knife attack” a number of years earlier and had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He said the man was also under a lot of stress at the time. 

Mr Meagher said the fact that he had brought drugs into the garda station was indicative of the fact that he “simply wasn’t thinking straight” at the time. He said the man is now getting help and had asked him to apologise. He said the man had been taking Xanax due to anxiety. 

Judge Susan Fay ordered a probation report and referred the man to the Athy Alternative Project. She granted legal aid and adjourned the case to Portlaoise District Court on December 12.