Ire Three men grew cannabis on uninhabited island

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Three men have received suspended sentences for growing €24,000 worth of cannabis plants in a forest clearing on the largest uninhabited island on Lough Corrib.

The men travelled regularly by boat from Oughterard pier, which is 5km from Inchagoill Island, to tend the plants before they were caught by gardaí in October 2014.

James Morris, aged 29, of 11, John Coogan Park, Newcastle, Galway; John McInerney, aged 30, of 29, John Coogan Park, Newcastle; and Michael McNamara, aged 32, of 30, Camillaun Park, Newcastle, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court last July to having cannabis in their possession which was for sale or supply to others at Inchagoill Island on Lough Corrib, on October 16, 2014.

All three pleaded guilty last July to the cultivation of the cannabis plants.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/three-men-grew-cannabis-on-uninhabited-island-379011.html

[redbeard]

Three Galway city men have been given suspended sentences for growing €24,000 worth of cannabis plants for their own use in a forest clearing on the largest uninhabited island on Lough Corrib.

The men travelled regularly by boat from Oughterard pier, which is five kilometres from Inchagoill Island, to tend the plants before they were caught by Garda in October, 2014.

James Morris (29), of 11 John Coogan Park, Newcastle; John McInerney (30), of 29 John Coogan Park and Michael McNamara (32), 30 Camillaun Park, Newcastle, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court last July to having cannabis in their possession which was for sale or supply to others at Inchagoill Island on Lough Corrib, on October 16, 2014.

Prosecuting barrister, Conor Fahy BL explained to Judge Karen O’Connor at the sentence hearing last week it was accepted this had been a non-commercial enterprise.

All three pleaded guilty to the cultivation of the cannabis plants on the island on October 16 last year.

Mr Fahy said the large, wooded, uninhabited island is a popular resting place for anglers and often serves as a place of refuge for fishermen on the lake, while tourists flock there during the summer months to view the remnants of an ancient monastic settlement there.

Garda PJ Noone explained the cannabis farm was located in the middle of a densely forested area 100 metres from the island’s jetty.

He said it was a “tight squeeze” to get through the forest but once inside Gardai found a clearing where some small trees had been cut down to create a space in which to grow the cannabis plants.

He said the men were using the natural light and rain water that fell to sustain the plants which were growing quite well in the sheltered spot.

“They were well concealed and people walking the area would not see them. They were off the beaten track,” he said.

Gardai, he said, became aware there were a large number of cannabis plants growing on the island on September 14, 2014 – a month before the trio were caught.

The island could only be accessed by boat and Gardai monitored the plants for a number of weeks.

Then, on October 16, 2014, they became aware the men had harvested three of the plants and had taken them away from the island.

Garda PJ Noone said he drove towards Oughterard where he knew the men had a boat moored and he intercepted their car near Moycullen village as they were making their back towards Galway.

Garda Noone said he found three large bags, containing freshly cultivated cannabis herb, stuffed into the boot.

Gardai went to the island the following day and found 17 more cannabis plants growing in an area which had been cleared in the middle of a dense forested area.

Morris, he said, had 25 previous convictions, including two for drug dealing offences.

He had received a five-month sentence in February 2014 for drug dealing and in March 2013, he received a nine-month sentence for supplying drugs to inmates at Castlerea Prison.

He also had eight convictions for burglary offences between 2008 and 2012.

Garda Noone said he believed Morris was trying to turn his life around at this stage.

He said McInerney was another heavy cannabis smoker who lived at home with his parents. He had not come under Garda radar until this incident, the court heard.

McNamara, Garda Noone said, lived at home with his parents and suffered from depression. He, too, was a heavy cannabis user.

“I believe he is a person who is easily led and manipulated,” Garda Noone added.

Ms Jennifer Higgins, BL, who represented Morris said her client had turned to a life of crime in his youth because he was angry with having Cystic Fibrosis and believed he would have a short life expectancy anyway.

She said he was given a new drug last year, which has been described as a ‘miracle’ drug and it had completely changed his life. She said he now looked and felt so much better and was no longer angry with the world. The sudden death of his mother last year had been a turning point in his life, she said.

Mr Conal McCarthy, BL, who represented McInerney said his client told Gardai he didn’t want to be buying cannabis off gangsters and he had no intention of selling it to anyone else.

Ms Deirdre Browne handed a probation report into court which confirmed McNamara had learning difficulties as a child and was a vulnerable person now.

Judge O’Connor sentenced Morris to two years in prison which she suspended for two years on condition he not reoffend.

“Thank you very much Judge, I really appreciate it,” Morris replied.

Judge O’Connor sentenced McNamara and McInerney to eighteen months in prison which she suspended for 18 months.