A chef was so stressed by the unsocial hours of his work that he grew cannabis to self-medicate, his solicitor pleaded before Galway District Court.
Tim Griffin (28 ) who is accommodated by Galway Simon, was charged with having a cannabis plant valued at €80 and cannabis valued at €224 when Gardaí searched an address in Knocknacarra on October 10, 2024.
Judge Valerie Corcoran was told that the plant was discovered growing in a tent at the rear of the property.
John Martin, solicitor (defending ) pleaded that Gardaí were satisfied that his client was growing the drug for his own personal use and he was not in the drug industry.
His client had qualified as a chef and worked as one for a number of years. As a result of the unsociable hours of this work he had developed an addiction.
Judge Corcoran said that this was his second drug conviction and while she accepted there was no indication that he was growing cannabis for anything other than his personal use, she had to record a conviction under the circumstances.
She imposed fines totalling €400 and ordered the destruction of the cannabis plant.
