A young man who was a passenger in a car that turned away from a garda checkpoint was found to have had two small packages of cannabis and two grinders in his possession.

Gda Jason Daly gave evidence at Bantry District Court in the case against Mark O’Connor of Kineilty, Liscannor, Clare, who was one of three people in the vehicle that did a U-turn at Slip, but was subsequently stopped in the town’s Main Street on May 7th 2022.

There was no appearance for the accused when the case was called, but the hearing went ahead in his absence.

The garda told Judge Joanne Carroll he found two bags of cannabis worth €30 in total​, and two grinders​, that the accused admitted in a cautioned memo were his, and for his own personal use.

Judge Carroll convicted the accused.

She issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.