Probation report ordered for Offaly drug offender

A PROBATION and welfare report will be prepared for a man who was caught in possession of drugs shortly after receiving a suspended sentence for a similar offence.

A plea of guilty was entered by solicitor Aisling Maloney at Tullamore District Court on behalf of her client Dylan McGrath (25), The Sycamores, Edenderry.

Mr McGrath had been summonsed for possession of drugs at The Sycamores on February 28 this year.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court the drugs were worth €90 and the accused had four previous convictions under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

When Sergeant Thornton added that Mr McGrath had received a nine-month suspended sentence on January 20 last for an offence the previous October Ms Maloney said there was an addiction issue with his client but he was reducing his intake.

READ NEXT: Drugs found on man in Offaly hospital after crash

The solicitor asked the court to consider ordering a probation report for the man. Ms Maloney said he was starting a Safe Pass course soon and had suffered bereavements in his family.

Noting that the accused had been convicted of a drugs offence seven weeks after a previous conviction, Judge Valerie Corcoran indicated that she did not believe Mr McGrath was serious about dealing with his addiction.

Judge Corcoran said the latest offence could trigger the imposition of the suspended sentence and she did not want to waste the time of the probation service.

“I want to get off drugs,” Mr McGrath replied.

Judge Corcoran ordered the preparation of a probation and welfare report by November 26 next, with particular reference to assessing the man's suitability for treatment.