A BOA ISLAND man who was found to have a range of different drugs in his car and home said he was using them for pain management, a court has heard.
Aiden McGrath from Tullychurry Road, Rossharbour, Leggs appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to possessing Class A, Class B, and Class C drugs, cultivating cannabis, and the possession of fireworks without a licence.
On February 3rd police searched a red Ford Transit that was parked near a junction on the Lough Shore Road, and they found a small amount of cannabis.
While searching the van McGrath came along in a car, and said the van was his.
The car was then searched and another small amount of cannabis was found as well as a bag of tablets.
Following the cannabis finds, police then searched McGrath’s home where they found a tent with six cannabis plants as well as other drug related items.
In total, police found 5.5 grams of cannabis, six plants, as well as Tapamtadol, Diazepam, and
Zopiclone tablets.
Defence barrister Stefan Rafferty handed a medical report into court and explained McGrath had a health condition that could flare up periodically, causing intense pain and sleeplessness.
He explained that McGrath had used the drugs to self-medicate, and said that many of the drugs he was found with had previously been prescribed to him, in some form, by his doctor.
Mr Rafferty said McGrath was now attending pain management clinics and was working with his doctor on managing his condition, and no longer used illegal drugs.
The barrister stressed there was no suggestion whatsoever the drugs had been for a commercial purpose, and were entirely for McGrath’s own personal use.
Referring to a pre-sentence report and the medical report, District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that it was clear McGrath suffered with chronic pain.
He sentenced him to 60 hours community service, ordered him to complete two years probation, and fined him £75.
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