South Derry factory worker handed over bag containing cannabis before police searched him, court told
A South Derry factory worker who handed over a bag containing one gram of cannabis to police before being searched, was fined £100 at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Twenty-five-year-old John Patrick McGuigan from Carn View, Swatragh, was also ordered to pay a £15 offender's levy when he admitted a charge of having the drug in his possession on August 14.
Prosecuting counsel said at approximately 12 midnight at Queen’s Avenue, Magherafelt, police were on patrol when they stopped a vehicle and carried out a search of the driver and defendant.
The lawyer said that before police could search McGuigan he handed over a bag of suspected cannabis, and in a notebook interview made a full admission to possessing the drug.
Admitting the offence, defence solicitor Stephen Atherton asked the court to give the defendant “maximum credit” for entering an earlier plea to the charge.
Mr Atherton stressed McGuigan has no previous convictions apart for an alternative cautionary disposal for a previous matter of this nature.
The solicitor said this has been “a salutary lesson to him” and he is aware the recreational use of the drug will have consequences.
In reply to a question from District Judge Oonagh Mullan, Mr Atherton said the defendant had paid £10 for the cannabis.
He said the defendant is a factory worker and supported his parents.
Imposing the penalties, District Judge Mullan remarked that drug offences are taken seriously by the courts.
The judge also made a destruction order in respect of the cannabis.