South Derry man invited police into his kitchen where he had cannabis on 'open display'

District Judge Conor Heaney was told police had called at the home of the defendant in Draperstown on January 22 this year to talk to him about another matter.

Before the court was 39-year-old John Paul Donnelly, of High Street, who was told by the judge that regardless of his issues “drugs were not the answer to them”.

Counsel prosecuting said the defendant had invited the police in to the kitchen where they observed the cannabis and Donnelly admitted to them that it was cannabis. She said he was cautioned about the matter.

When police returned to his address on February 14 for a notebook interview, the defendant invited them into the kitchen police again observed cannabis on the kitchen unit.

District Judge Heaney remarked: “He had his wares openly on display.”

A defence lawyer explained that Donnelly has a long term alcohol problem but was in remission.

He said the defendant had suffered a bereavement of a friend and hadn’t coped well with it. The lawyer said he thought he could ameliorate this by taking cannabis.

Counsel stressed he was now going to his GP and has been referred to the addiction services for help, and for counselling in respect of his loss.

Judge Heaney, who told Donnelly he didn’t want to see him back in court, also made a destruction order in respect of the cannabis.