71-year-old man admits to growing cannabis in home

A 71-year-old man facing trial by judge and jury on charges of growing cannabis herb and also having cannabis resin in his possession at his home in Bantry confessed to the crimes.

A jury was about to be sworn to hear the case against Michael Wilson of Colomane East, Bantry, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

However, his barrister, Peter O’Flynn, asked for the accused to be arraigned.

Mr Wilson then pleaded guilty to a charge of having cannabis herb for sale or supply to others on October 21, 2020 and he admitted a similar offence in respect of cannabis resin.

Mr O’Flynn said the accused was ready to face sentencing on Monday.

Judge Helen Boyle dealt with the matter later in the day and imposed a fully suspended two-year sentence.

The judge said, “You yourself grew cannabis at various locations around your home. You produced resin yourself. The total value of the drugs found was €15,000. There was no evidence of drug-dealing paraphernalia.”

The accused also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an air rifle without a certificate.

Judge Boyle said the particular rifle was only just above the category that would require a certificate. It was acknowledged that the defendant legitimately had a shotgun for which he was fully licensed.

The judge also noted that Detective Garda Colin O’Mahony does not believe he will come to garda attention again.

“The headline sentence is three years. I will reduce it to two years on your plea. I will suspend it in its entirety on condition that you keep the peace,” Judge Boyle said.

Defence senior counsel, Ray Boland, said that the accused was growing the cannabis for his own use but accepted that the amount he had grown was far in excess of what could be regarded as being for immediate personal consumption.

For that reason Mr Wilson pleaded to the supply charges also.