Teen smoked 60 joints a day, court hears
A Dublin teenager claimed in his trial for drug dealing that he smoked 60 cannabis joints a day.
The boy (aged 17) had pleaded not guilty to possessing an ounce of herbal cannabis for sale or supply, at his home, in Coolock, in north Dublin, on July 18 last year.
Judge Ann Ryan heard at the Dublin Children’s Court that gardaí obtained a warrant to search the boy’s home under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Garda Brian Johnston said that an ounce of herbal cannabis with a street value of €280 was recovered from a locker in the house and the teenager took responsibility for the drugs.
The teen had admitted having simple possession of the cannabis but denied that he had it for the purpose of selling to others.
Garda Johnston said the quantity of drugs seized justified bring the drug dealing charge.
In evidence, the boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, agreed that the cannabis was his. However, he rejected the allegations that he was selling drugs to others.
In cross-examination it was put to him that the amount seized was too much for his personal use which the teenager rejected.
He was then asked how many joints he usually smoked in one day.
“I would have 50 or 60 there’s nothing else to do,” the teen replied.
Judge Ryan found the teenager guilty of the charge.
She heard that he had been given a sentence last year for drug dealing which was suspended on condition that he did not re-offend for eighteen months.
She adjourned the case, and remanded him on bail, until later when the activation of the suspended sentence is to be dealt with.
Mitigation pleas and sentencing on the new charge will be dealt with after.
