A COURIER caught with €40 worth of cannabis was placed under a probation order, Clonakilty District Court heard.

Mateusz Marczewski (32), of Tawnies Mews, Clonakilty, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession.

Solicitor Conrad Murphy, defending, said: ‘My client is a courier driver for UPS. He’s living with his partner in Bantry and previously worked at a takeaway in Clonakilty. He pleads guilty and made full admissions to the guards. He is not drug dependent.’

The court heard that the defendant had not used drugs for almost a year and had recently become a father. Mr Marczewski said: ‘I have a new-born baby, we had the baby last month.’

Mr Marczewski has four previous convictions: one for public order, two for possession of small amounts of cannabis and amphetamine, and one for driving under the influence of drugs, for which he was fined €100 and disqualified from driving for one year.

The accused was asked to take a drug test costing €120 on October 10th and went to take it on October 23rd. Mr Marczewski said he could not afford the test at the time, which is why he attended the hospital almost two weeks after receiving notification.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: ‘Given that he has told me that he has turned his life around, that he took two urine tests and that there is a financial cost attached to it while having a new-born child, this matter will be dealt with under a probation order.’

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.