Jail sentence for €20 cannabis in Portlaoise

A man caught with €20 of cannabis was given a three month sentence at Portlaoise District Court. 

Vincent Wade, 47, with an address at 40 Beechlawn, Mountmellick Road,  Portlaoise admitted having the cannabis on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise on October 22, 2021. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant has a number of previous convictions including eight under the misuse of drugs act. He revealed one conviction had occurred the day before the latest offence. 

“The day after he was convicted in Portlaoise District Court he was found with drugs on his person,” Judge John O’Leary noted. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client has a certain reliance on cannabis and needs to take the orders of the court more seriously. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was on a CE Scheme earning €247 per week.  She said he is pleading at the earliest opportunity. 

Judge O’Leary said the man’s continued use is funding drugs gangs.  He sentenced the man to three months in prison. 

“I hope this is a wake up call,” said Judge O’Leary, who fixed recognisance in case of appeal. 

The defendant appealed the sentence later in the day.