Judge requests urine samples from Laois man for next three months
Portlaoise Courthouse
AT Portlaoise District Court last week, Judge Andrew Cody dealt with a question that had come from Judge Susan Fay as to whether he had accepted jurisdiction in a case.
At a previous hearing into a case before Judge Susan Fay, Jordan Lee (27), 5 The Granary, Pearse Street, Mountmellick was before her charged with possessing 107 grams of cannabis and drug paraphernalia at his home on 21 January for personal use and for sale or supply and with laundering €2,415 in cash and possessing cocaine for personal use at his address on the same occasion.
He had also initially faced another charge of possessing 107 grams of cannabis for sale or supply on the same date at Pearse Street. This charge was withdrawn by the prosecuting Garda Stephen Lynott last week.
When the case came before Judge Fay, Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said the total value of drugs seized was €2,740. Judge Fay said she was not inclined to hear the case due to the amount involved.
However, Mr Lee’s solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick told her that Judge Cody had already heard the evidence in the case, which involved drugs valued at €2,343.51, and he had accepted jurisdiction to hear it a district court level. Judge Fay deferred jurisdiction in the case for clarification on the matter from Judge Cody.
When Judge Cody heard the issue, he said that he had accepted jurisdiction on 15 December last year.
Mr Lee went on to plead guilty to all charges.
Sgt Kirby said the defendant had one previous conviction for possessing drugs for his own use.
Ms Fitzpatrick said it was “a blessing in disguise” when gardaí carried out a search at his address. “He has now turned a corner and is now looking to set up his own business,” she said.
Judge Cody said he wanted Mr Lee to provide results from urine analysis for April, May and June, as well a probation report and a community service assessment for the 23 June sitting of the case before remanding him on continuing bail to that date.
