Convicted drug dealer had Cannabis

A Banbridge man, described in court as a “convicted drug dealer” has pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of class B drug Cannabis.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jun 2014, 16:00 BST
University of Ulster plans to build a multi-storey car park at its new £250 million Belfast campus.University of Ulster plans to build a multi-storey car park at its new £250 million Belfast campus.
University of Ulster plans to build a multi-storey car park at its new £250 million Belfast campus.

Christopher Walsh (28) from Mount Pleasant was fined £500 by District Judge Mr Paul Copeland last Thursday.

The court heard how his car was stopped on 26 March and a search revealed a small bag containing suspected cannabis. It was found inside a lunchbox behind the passenger seat. Walsh was cautioned and admitted that the cannabis was his, stating that he had planned to smoke it.

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His solicitor said he had fully co-operated at which point Judge Copeland interrupted asking, “This man is a convicted drugs dealer so what was he doing with these drugs?”

His solicitor said these offences were 10 years ago and since then his client had been working industriously.

He said Walsh had instructed him that a friend had given him the drugs. “He had planned to smoke it at the weekend, and had forgotten it was there. He is an occasional smoker and dabbles in it.”

“It’s to calm him down. He doesn’t drink as he is diabetic.”

Judge Copeland told Walsh, “You need to have your mind firmly fixed that you must be 1000 miles away from drugs.”

He was given 10 weeks to pay the fine.