A MACROOM man who pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis on two separate occasions was convicted and fined.

Declan O’Dea (52) of Gearragh Cottage, Tullatreada, Macroom pleaded guilty at Macroom District Court to the possession of cannabis on two dates in 2023.

Sgt Trish O’Sullivan told Judge Joanne Carroll that on April 10th 2023 gardaí executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home where they found €50 worth of cannabis herb.

‘On May 5th 2023 gardaí executed another search warrant at his home where €50 worth of cannabis was found.’

Mr O’Dea, who represented himself in court, said the ‘weed’ was still there when he went back to the room so he was unaware that he was being charged. He said the amount of the drug found was so small that gardaí didn’t even bother writing it down.

The court heard that the part-time welder has 29 previous convictions including one for simple drug possession and three for the possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Judge Carroll said: ‘Gardaí believed you were involved in more than simple supply of small amounts of drugs for yourself.’

She convicted him and fined him a total of €500 on both drug charges, warning that after a third conviction for drug possession a prison sentence is warranted on a fourth conviction.