Updated report ordered for man guilty of Offaly drugs offences

A PROBATION report on a man guilty of drugs offences was not great, Judge Andrew Cody remarked at Tullamore District Court.

The report was ordered for Dylan McGrath (25), The Sycamores, Edenderry who had pleaded guilty to drugs possession at The Sycamores, Edenderry on February 28 last.

The District Court heard in October that Mr McGrath had been caught in possession of €90 worth of drugs shortly after receiving a suspended sentence for a similar offence.

The court was told the man had received a nine-month suspended sentence on January 20 last for an offence the previous October.

His solicitor Aisling Maloney said there was an addiction issue with her client but he was reducing his intake and she asked for a probation report for him, saying he would be starting a Safe Pass course and had suffered bereavements in his family.

At that court sitting Judge Valerie Corcoran said she did not believe Mr McGrath was serious about dealing with his addiction and warned the latest offence could trigger the imposition of the suspended sentence.

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The judge noted the accused had committed a drugs offence seven weeks after a previous conviction and said she did not want to waste the time of the probation service.

Mr McGrath said he wanted to get off drugs and the probation report was ordered.

When it came before Judge Cody this week he noted that Mr McGrath had previous convictions for drugs possession and was still taking drugs. The judge said it was “not a great report”.

David Nugent, BL, defending, said the man had been engaging in counselling but had not yet seen the benefit of it and he knew he had to be kind to himself during that process.

Judge Cody adjourned sentencing to March 11 next for an updated probation report.