ARRESTED MAN (20) HAD CANNABIS WORTH 2,000 IRISH POUNDS

A 20-year-old man arrested by Gardai after he got off a bus was found to9
have cannabis worth 2,000 Irish Pounds in his possession, Sligo Court heard.

Before the court was Graham O'Grady, 54 Cartron Estate who admitted being
in possession of the drug and having it for the purpose of selling or
supplying it at Temple Street, on July 25th last.

Supt. Jim Sheridan said that O'Grady was observed getting off the bus by
Detective garda E. McHale and Detective Sergeant G. Connolly and was
followed. The defendant was found to have six pieces of cannabis in his
hand while there were also pipe ends discovered in his possession.

O'Grady was arrested at 2.02 p.m. and taken to Sligo Garda Station where he
later made a statement. The defendant said that he had been smoking the
drug for a year and that he had 'a serious problem with the stuff'.

He had bought the cannabis for 250 pounds in Middlesex and it was not of
good quality. He intended giving some of it to his friends.

Supt. Sheridan said the street value of the cannabis was in the region of
2,000 Irish pounds. The drug weighed 212.183gms. which was enough to make
2,080 handrolled cigarettes. Defendant did not have any previous convictions.

Mr. Mark Mullaney, Solicitor (defending) pleaded that O'Grady never sold
cannabis in Sligo though he began smoking it here and his experimentation
ended up in addiction.

"I thought cannabis wasn't supposed to be addictive", commented Judge
Oliver McGuinness.

"Well there are two schools of thought on this", said Mr. Mullaney.

"A lot of enlightened people would have us believe that cannabis is not
addictive and would quote chapter and verse to back this claim up. As far
as I am concerned cannabis is addictive", said Judge McGuinness.

He fined O'Grady 50 pounds for being in possession of the drug and 500
pounds on the supply charge.

"I will not jail him on this occasion because he does not have any previous
convictions", said the Judge.

Checked-by: Richard Lake