Court hears garda found drugs on a man he stopped to help

A Thurles man was fined for possession of drugs after a garda stopped to assist him.

Jeffrey Morrissey (33) of Novas, 56 Mitchel Street, Thurles pleaded guilty to possession of controlled drugs, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 on December 27, 2022, at Lisbunny, Nenagh.

The court was told that on the evening of the incident, the arresting guard had come across the defendant in dark clothing walking in an area with no footpath.

He stopped Mr Morrissey to offer him a lift to a safer place but on speaking to the defendant “something seemed off.”

The guard searched the defendant and found six Xanax tablets for which he did not have a prescription. 

The value of the drugs was €20.

The court was told the defendant had 117 previous convictions, including for public order offences, theft and offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act. 

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Elizabeth McKeever told the court her client has, since the incident, completed residential treatment for his addiction.

He is currently in a six-month outpatient programme in sheltered accommodation, she told the court. 

“He does seem to be on the right track, Judge, in dealing with his addiction,” said Ms McKeever. 

Judge Fiona Brennan said the defendant would need to continue his treatment. 

The Judge fined the defendant €200 and gave him nine months to pay.