A YOUNG man who was caught with a large quantity of anti-depression type tablets at his home that he bought over the internet pleaded guilty to that and other offences.

Inspector Dave O’Callaghan testified at Cork District Court that gardaí were carrying out the search of Shane Byrne’s home when they found the tablets which had a value of up to €3,000.

Byrne told them that he had purchased them on the internet. At Cork District Court he pleaded guilty to a charge that on September 25, 2018, at 2 Convent Road Upper, Blackrock, he had in his possession a psychoactive substance, namely Diclazepam, for sale or supply to another, knowing or believing reckless as to whether that substances was being acquired or supplied for human consumption, contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010.

The same defendant was caught with stolen property, namely a bicycle and on another occasion tools stolen from an unlocked van, around the same time.

There was one other public order incident in January this year arising out of personal circumstances that proved upsetting for the accused, but otherwise, his solicitor Diane Hallahan said the events were clustered in September of 2018 and he had been staying off drugs and out of trouble since then.

Judge Bernadette Owens said that in fairness to the accused man he had co-operated with gardaí.

“Courts have to be very careful where someone has a considerable history of previous convictions but the court cannot write people off because of their previous convictions. There has to be light at the end of the tunnel. I am directing a probation report. It is entirely in his hands.” 

Judge Owens said as she adjourned sentencing until September 5.