Enniskillen Court House RMG10
AN Irvinestown man who had over 100 previous convictions has been fined for having cannabis.
Patrick McDonagh (31) of Sally’s Wood, Irvinestown pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday.
Shortly after 9pm on Tuesday, February 14 police were flagged down by a member of the public on Main Street Irvinestown, who told them there were two men being a nuisance to motorists further up the street.
When police located the men they noticed a strong smell of cannabis and that one of them, McDonagh, seemed agitated and kept putting his hands down his trousers. They then noticed he had as small clear bag with a green substance inside, which he appeared to be trying to conceal.
When the officers searched McDonagh he held his hand closed in a fist and initially refused to open it. They also found three clear bags with a green substance on the ground.
Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said McDonagh had a significant previous criminal record, although he had no previous drugs convictions, but said he had stayed out of trouble since spending ten months in custody. He said, because of this, McDonagh had panicked when he was stopped by police, which was why he’d acted as he had.
The barrister added the cannabis had been for McDonagh’s own personal use, and said while the defendant did not have a cannabis problem, he said he was frank about his alcohol addiction.
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said McDonagh had 108 previous convictions, but nothing in terms of drugs, which he said was “welcome.”
As it was his first possession offence, Judge McStay fined McDonagh £200.
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