Shane Carty (27) of Drumbawn Close, Drumclay appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, via video link from Maghaberry Prison, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a Class A drug. 

Carty was on remand for a string of other drugs charges, including importing a controlled drug and possession with intent to supply. However on Monday a spokesman for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the charges were to be withdrawn pending a report. 

On April 17 last year police in Derrin Park in Enniskillen noticed Carty walking on the footpath, and noticed he appeared nervous when he saw them, fidgeting in his pockets. The officers searched Carty and didn’t find anything on his person, but they found a small white bag of white powder on the ground nearby. 

Carty said the white powder was his, and he believed it to be a drug called “meow meow”. Police tests established it was cocaine, worth approximately £30. 

Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said while the charge was a serious matter, only a relatively small amount of drugs had been found, and was entirely consistent with personal use. Mr Roddy said Carty had cooperated with police, and had been very candid with them when the officers found the bag of cocaine on the ground. 

The court heard Carty, had been in jail for a total of seven months now, and Mr Roddy said he’d used that time productively, attending classes and courses and working six days a week in the prison. The barrister added Carty was regularly tested and had been drug free since being in jail. 

“He is all too well the negative effects drugs have on one’s life,” said Mr Roddy. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick said while Carty had a relatively clear previous record for drugs offences, he said drugs could’ve been a factor in his other offending, such as assault and disorderly behaviour. 

“Either he dose these things when totally sober or when under the influence of drink or drugs,” said Judge Broderick. Mr Roddy said Carty had had issues with alcohol. 

Expressing reservations, as he said Carty had failed to complete a similar order previously, Judge Broderick sentenced him to 75 hours community service. He warned Carty if he failed to comply with the order he would be brought back to court for sentencing and would be given a prison sentence.