Enniskillen Court House
A LISNASKEA man has been given community service for a drugs offence dating back more than four years.
Shane McGovern (22) of Trasna Way appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug, in relation to a search on his home this summer, and possession of a Class B and a Class A drug in relation to a search in August 2013.
On Tuesday, July 4 police searched McGovern’s home in Lisnaskea on foot of a warrant issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act. McGovern returned home during the search and cooperated with the officers, who found a small quantity of cannabis.
When interviewed, McGovern made full admissions and said the Class B drug was for his own personal use, and that he’d paid £20 for it.
The second set of charges arose out of a previous search of his home, this time on August 7, 2013. During that search they found a box with a small amount of herbal cannabis in McGovern’s bedroom.
They also uncovered two cannabis grinders containing traces of the drug, as well as a bag of white powder, which turned out to be methylamphetamine. Defence solicitor Tommy Owens said McGovern had thought the white powder had been mephedrone.
Again, the drugs were for his own personal use.
Mr Owens point it out one of the offences had taken four years to come to court, and McGovern had been 18 at the time of the offence. A spokesman for the PPS said two people had passed away during that time, delaying the case.
The solicitor added McGovern had a drug addiction problem, and was currently awaiting treatment.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told McGovern he was “getting very close to a prison sentence” and said if the offence in August 2013 hadn’t been over four years ago he would have sentenced him to custody.
For that offence, he sentence him to 100 hours community service. For the cannabis charge from July this year he sentenced him to two months in prison suspended for 12 months.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere