A YOUNG electrician will now be able to travel to Austria without a criminal conviction on his record when he escaped a drug possession conviction.
Judge Fiona Lydon was told at Galway District Court that the defendant before her had fully co-operated with the Gardaí when found with drugs to the value of €280 on his person. He came to the attention of Gardaí in the city on September 6 last year. He has no previous conviction on his record.
John Martin solr (defending ) pleaded that his client was 32 and had always worked and supported himself. He moved from employment in the hospitality and retail sectors to train as an electrician and had qualified in the last six months.
His client was hard-working and was a social user of cannabis. “At 32 he should have a bit more sense,” Mr Martin said but added that he was a man with a bright future and would appreciate if he got a chance to get on with his life without a criminal record.
He wished to apologise for his behaviour and was hoping to move to Austria to work in a data centre.
Judge Lydon said that people were given one chance by the Court in situations such as this, and warned the defendant not to come before her a second time or her decision would be very different.
The Probation Act was applied on condition he make a €300 donation to Galway Hospice.
