TWO KILLARGUE MEN IN COURT FOR GROWING CANNABIS

A small amount of cannabis was found following Garda raids on two houses in
Killargue last June. Two men appeared before Manorhamilton District Court
last week to face charges of cultivating cannabis and possession of drugs.

Before the court were George Langrish, Cunnion, Killargue and John Ripley,
Buckhill, Killargue, charged with the offence on 4th June last.

Detective Garda Hugh Moloney told Judge Oliver McGuinness that he, in the
company of other gardai, searched the home of George Langrish on 4th June
last.

He said he found three cannabis plants growing in pots in a polythene
tunnel beside the house.

Inside the house, Det Garda Moloney said that he found a plastic container
containing dried cannabis leaves as well as a smoking pipe.

Det Garda Moloney said that he got full co-operation from Mr Langrish who
later made a statement and took full responsibility.

He said the defendant had been living in the Killargue area for 20 to 25
years and had not come under any garda notice in that time.

Solicitor for both defendants, Mr Gerry McGovern, said that Mr Langrish was
into growing his own vegetables and that this was only a small amount of
cannabis.

He said that his client is married with a number of children and the
cannabis was just for his own experimentation.

Judge McGuinness remarked that this was something that was happening with
more and more frequency in the area and he adjourned the case against
George Langrish to Manorhamilton Court on 10th February and ordered him to
return with a sum of 100 pounds per plant (300 Irish pounds) on that date.

Judge McGuinness refused a request by Mr McGovern to reduce the sum and
said that "there is a price to be paid for importing this type of culture
into our society".

Detective Garda Dermot Flannery told the court that at 7.45am on 4th June
last he and several other gardai went to the house of John Ripley.

He said they found a silver pipe with a residue of cannabis in the bowl.

Det Garda Flannery said that in a greenhouse attached to a shed beside the
house he found five cannabis plants. He said Mr Ripley took full
responsibility for them.

Det Garda Flannery said that on 8th June he sent the plants to the Forensic
Science Laboratory which found that they contained 5.89 grams of cannabis,
sufficient to make 58 cigarettes.

He said that Mr Ripley made a statement to him two days later and said that
the cannabis was entirely for his own use.

He added that Mr Ripley, who is married with two young children, was fully
co-operative and had not come under the attention of the gardai before.

Judge McGuinness also adjourned this case to the next court on 10th
February and ordered Mr Ripley to return with 300 Irish pounds.