Laois man appears in court for obstructing gardaí in the course of their duty
Image for illustration purposes
A MAN who attempted to snatch cannabis from the bonnet of a car after gardaí had taken it from him appeared before Portlaoise District Court last week for obstructing gardaí in the course of their duty.
Jack Carroll (24), Cullenagh, Portlaoise was also before the court charged with possessing cannabis for his own use when gardaí stopped him on 6 August at Derrycloney, Mountmellick.
Garda Sgt Kirby said gardaí stopped a car that was being driven by the defendant at 9.20pm that night. While speaking with him, they got a smell of cannabis from the car. They observed that Mr Carroll looked nervous and was shaking. When searched, they found €20 worth of cannabis on him. He told gardaí that he had it for his own use. Gardaí left the cannabis on the bonnet of the car. When they told Mr Carroll that they were seizing it for evidence, he tried to take the cannabis from the car and obstructed gardaí.
Sgt Kirby said that the defendant has 16 previous convictions.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client had not been driving the car at the time but was a passenger. She said that Mr Carroll previously had an issue with drugs and that at the time of the incident had been in a relationship that had broken down and he was using cannabis.
She said that gardaí “told him that he was free to go. His phone was on the bonnet of the car beside the cannabis. In his attempt to get his phone, it might have seemed that he tried to get the cannabis.” She said that Mr Carroll has been promised work on a windfarm and was very good mechanically and that “at 24 years of age, he’s at a bit of a crossroads in his life.” Judge Andrew Gubbins said: “Gardaí have a tough enough job as it is than having to deal with people interfering in their work.” He went on convict Mr Byrne on the obstruction charge and sentenced him to one month imprisonment, which he suspended for six months, and instructed that he takes part in the 'Athy Alternative Drug Awareness Project'.
