A SCAFFOLDER who got so drunk he stood in front of traffic in Rosscarbery was searched by gardaí who found €100 worth of cannabis on him.

Christopher McCarthy (40), of apt 3, 27 Bridge Street, Skibbereen, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to being drunk in public and the possession of drugs.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy said that at 7pm on February 20th last Gda Joe Grimes received a 999 call about a male standing in front of traffic at the Causeway in Rosscarbery.

‘On arrival at the scene he met the accused. He was very drunk and was unable to form a sentence,’ said Sgt Mulcahy.

‘Gda Grimes carried out a search of him before he placed him in the garda van and he found €100 worth of cannabis on him. He later made a caution voluntary memo but refused to sign it but did say the drugs were his.’

The court heard that he has 10 previous convictions for being drunk in a public place, and three for assault, but none for the possession of drugs.

Mr McCarthy said that he rarely drinks but drank too much on the night in question while out celebrating a friend’s birthday.

He said a majority of his convictions happened a long time ago.

He said he bought the cannabis earlier that day and told Judge Joanne Carroll that he doesn’t have a drug addiction problem.

Judge Carroll remanded him on continuing bail to April 21s and directed him to donate €300 to the court poor box.

She told him that if the money isn’t in court she would proceed to convict him of both offences and fine him €600.