A Derrygonnelly man who unsuccessfully tried to grow cannabis in his cupboard has been fined in court. 

Robert Dickie (26) of Mill Green, Derrygonnelly appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday charged with cultivating cannabis on dates between January 1, 2015 and October 11. A charge of possession of cannabis was withdrawn, and the court was told Dickie had limited success in growing the plants. Police carried searched Dickie’s home on foot of a warrant on October 10 where they seized a number of pots containing soil and the remnants of cannabis plants. They also seized a number of items  associated with growing cannabis, such as seed packets, lights and an extractor fan from a cupboard in his home.

In interview, Dickie admitted to police he had attempted to grow the Class B drug, explaining that it was for his own personal consumption and he was growing it in an attempt to save money as the cost of his cannabis usage was high. Defence solicitor Garry Smyth pointed out all the items seized by police were small enough to fit in Dickie’s cupboard, and asked the court to recognise the “limited success” of the defendant at growing the cannabis. Mr Smyth, who handed photos of the plants into the court, said there were not of “any great health or maturity” and explained the lights used by Dickie were too bright for their purpose. 

The solicitor said Dickie, a father-of-one who lives with his partner, had suffered from cannabis abuse but was not seeking help for the issue, and handed in letters from two counselling services he was attending. Mr Smyth told District Judge Nigel Broderick that after Dickie dealt with his issues he would not be back before the court again. Judge Broderick said he was satisfied Dickie, who had one minor possession conviction on his record, was now seeking assistance for his cannabis use. He fined the defendant £250, and warned him if he was detected with cannabis again he would face a more severe penalty on the next occasion.