Suspended sentence for Corkman who used cannabis to self-medicate for back pain

A ONE-year jail term was suspended in the case against a man caught with cannabis for his own use. He was using it to self-medicate for a back injury.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy said of 23-year-old Ryan Daly, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, “He felt the need to self-medicate his back injury, albeit unlawfully.”

Judge Dunphy assessed the sentence at one year in light of previous convictions, but then referred to mitigating factors outlined by defence barrister Mahon Corkery.

Those factors included the fact that he has been working for the past six years and that the offence dated back to August 2020.

There was a search of Ryan Daly’s home at 68 Hazel Road, Togher, Cork, on August 21 2020 and a quantity of cannabis was found.

The state originally brought charges of having the drug for sale or supply, but they withdrew that charge and also withdrew a charge of money-laundering in respect of cash of over €22,000 seized during the search.

Mr Daly pleaded guilty to the charge of having the cannabis for his own use.

Judge Dunphy referred to ‘significant’ previous convictions.

However, in all the circumstances the judge said he would suspend the one-year sentence on condition that he would comply with all directions of the probation service for a period of two years.

Mr Corkery asked at the conclusion of sentencing to have the cash that was seized returned to the accused as the money-laundering charge had been withdrawn.

Judge Dunphy said that application could be made by way of a police property application at the district court at a future date.

When told that the accused was represented on free legal aid, the judge said, “I will reserve any comment on that.”