A Keady man has been fined £250 for possession of cannabis, with the judge saying he “should visit a doctor rather than a drug dealer” in order to deal with pain.
Eamonn Gerard Murphy, 32, of Bridge Street, appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with possession of Class B.
It was heard that on August 19, last year, police conducted a search of the defendant’s home and found three exhibits of herbal cannabis wrapped in cling film.
When interviewed Murphy gave full admission and told officers he “smoked to ease his pain”.
Defence counsel stated that the defendant smoked around £100 worth of cannabis for medical problems.
They went on to say he understood that it was “not his choice to medicate himself illegally”.
Court heard that Murphy had been the victim of an assault “some years ago” and still suffered pain now.
District Judge Paul Copeland told the defendant that he should “visit a doctor rather than a drug dealer” in order to solve his pain problem.
He went on say “it is not by chance that police searched your home, you have a record as an abuser of illegal drugs”.
Murphy was ordered to pay £250 along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.
