'It's no longer a guilty secret' said a barrister for a Co Armagh drug dealer who owned up to his crime after friend was arrested, Craigavon court hears
A Co Armagh man owned up to being a drug dealer after his friend was arrested by police who found 26 deal bags of cannabis in a car.
James McCabe, aged 21, from Legahory Court, Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to possessing the Class B drug cannabis with intent to supply at a previous hearing.
-
-
Police received a report about a group of males in the Lakelands area of Craigavon on June 6 this year. They were spotted leaving the area in a Seat Leon. Police stopped the vehicle in Enniskeen and while speaking with the occupants there was a “strong smell of cannabis”.
During a search of the defendant a small amount of cannabis was found. During a search of the vehicle a small red Adidas bag was found in the boot which contained approximately 26 deal bags each containing suspected cannabis – a total of 54.8 grams.
The driver of the vehicle was initially arrested however the defendant was subsequently contacted a few days later and made admissions to owning the cannabis found in the bag
On June 20 McCabe attended for a voluntary interview. He made full admissions to the drugs being cannabis and having possession of them.
During interview, he stated that most of the cannabis was for his own personal use, but that he had planned to sell some of it to his friends to make extra money. He said he planned to sell each bag of cannabis for £10.
McCabe’s barrister Ms Ciara Ennis said her client attended court with his father but prior to this had dealt with the lawyers himself. “During consultation, where he was very upset, I advised him to speak to his parents,” she said.
“He has spoken to his parents. They fully support him. They were not aware this had been happening – the cannabis use. Now that is out in the open, there is a weight lifted off Mr McCabe’s shoulders by being upfront and honest with his parents,” she said.
"He's never been in trouble before. Your Worship will see from the Pre Sentence Report that he got himself involved in cannabis from he was aged 17 and it moved on somewhat from simple possession to within intent to supply,” she said, adding that it is at the lowest end of the scale.
“The way that he is dealt with it is very responsible. He himself contacted the police and told them the cannabis belonged to him and didn’t want to get his friend in trouble.
"At no stage has he tried to minimise his own involvement and role. He recognises it is a very serious charge,” said the barrister, adding the Pre-Sentence Report shows his remorse and a low risk of reoffending.
She said McCabe told her he has abstained from cannabis for around six weeks and is getting support from his parents. “It’s no longer a guilty secret,” she said.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he listened to the “compassionate” plea from McCabe’s barrister. He also pointed to the fact McCabe held his hands up and didn’t allow friends to get into trouble.
“The remorse expressed in that report does appear to be genuine,” he said, ordering McCabe to carry out 120 hours Community Service.