Man who grew €60k worth of cannabis in Cork apartment given suspended sentence

A 29-year-old man’s cannabis growing exploits proved so successful and he got carried away with it to such an extent that by the time that gardaí raided his apartment he had grown €60,000 worth of the drug.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said that Ciaran MacCarthaigh of Leeside Apartments, Francis Street, Cork, had a diagnosis of autism and bi-polar disorder and had difficulties with psychosis. 

As a result of a jaw injury where he had to have titanium plates inserted, he began to self-medicate with cannabis. Ms Hyland said the intensity of his focus on growing the drug at his apartment meant that his growing operation got out of control.

The most serious charge against him was of having over €13,000 for sale or supply on July 10, 2021 at his home. That is the threshold figure which provides for a minimum sentence of ten years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

He admitted sharing the cannabis with friends and when questioned by gardaí he said he would have been paid a total of up to €10,000 over a period.

Ms Hyland said, “He presents as a man under significant pressure and stress. He is hugely remorseful.” She said he had been engaging with mental health services.

Judge Behan said she was alarmed at a background report showing that he was currently involved with a Christian church, to whom he was paying ten per cent of his present earnings. “I would have misgivings about this young man contributing money in this fashion and am concerned he would be open to exploitation,” Judge Behan said.

Otherwise, the judge said the probation report on Ciarán Mac Carthaigh was one of the most positive she had ever seen and he was put at a low risk of reoffending.

Laying emphasis on the particular vulnerabilities of the defendant the judge imposed a four-year suspended sentence.

A condition of the suspension of the sentence required him to engage with community mental health services and the judge added that the defendant should discuss with them the contributions he is making to a religious organisation.