Dublin man (60) caught with three cannabis plants suffers from 'anxiety issues'

Dermot McAuliffe (60) accepted responsibility for the plants although they were for use by several people, a court heard.

Judge Gerard Jones put him on a one-year peace bond at Dublin District Court after hearing McAuliffe suffered from "anxiety issues".

McAuliffe, of Holywell Crescent South, Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí searched the address under warrant on September 18, 2020.

A garda told Judge Jones cannabis plants worth €800 were found in the search and the accused accepted ownership.

The warrant used to enter the house was not sought in relation to McAuliffe, but someone else who had been residing there, his solicitor Brian Doherty said. The discovery of the plants was "ancillary to the initial search warrant", he said.

The accused had worked as a driver and more recently in a hotel, the court heard.

The plants had little or no value because the buds had not developed, Mr Doherty told the court.

It was "not a commercial venture" and was for a few people in the house, one of whom was now deceased, the court heard.

Mr Doherty asked the judge to be as lenient as possible.

Putting the accused on a peace bond at €100, the judge said he would "leave it at that".