Courts / Dublin / Report

Convicted cannabis grower denied guardianship of toddler

Summary

In a Dublin district family court hearing, a convicted cannabis grower with an outstanding European arrest warrant was denied guardianship of his toddler. The father's relationship with the child's mother ended before his March 2015 imprisonment. The mother had taken the son to visit the father in prison on several occasions, but this stopped recently. The father, represented by Sophie Cargin, stated he was serving a five‑year sentence in Ireland for growing cannabis and would be released next year. He claimed it was his first time in Irish prison, having previously served five years in an Eastern European country for theft. The court noted the pending European arrest warrant. The mother testified that the father had no connection with the child, rarely asked about his interests, and had made abusive remarks. Judge Timothy Lucey emphasized the child's welfare, concluding that the father's imprisonment and extradition risk made him unsuitable as a guardian, and refused the application.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Convicted cannabis grower denied guardianship of toddler. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 2015 Incident
• 2017-05-10 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision Theft

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report