Courts / Dublin / Report

10-year sentence for homeless man who acted as grow house "gardener" to avoid sleeping on streets

Date
2018-11-14

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Alan Lynch, 58, a homeless man with no fixed abode, was sentenced to ten years in jail for cultivating cannabis at Keelogues House, Heronford Lane, Shankill, Dublin. Lynch had previously been released from prison after a four‑year sentence for drug possession and had 19 prior traffic convictions. He pleaded guilty to a Section 15A offence for growing cannabis worth an estimated €763,560. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the mandatory minimum of ten years, citing Lynch's history of drug and alcohol dependence and his inability to rehabilitate. Lynch had been in custody since his arrest in January of that year. The court noted that the balance of the sentence could be reviewed after six years, with the possibility of serving or suspending the remaining term. The case stemmed from a police investigation triggered by a blue Mercedes van crash near the grow house, which led to the discovery of 917 cannabis plants and a 1.5 kg haul.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 10-year sentence for homeless man who acted as grow house "gardener" to avoid sleeping on streets. Charges or matters: cultivating cannabis worth a potential €763,560 under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, at Keelogues House, Heronford Lane, Shankill, Dublin, on June 14, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 14, 2016 Incident
2018-11-14 Publication

Why: Mr Bowman said his client became drug and alcohol dependent in order to sleep on the streets, but got involved with the grow house when he started to physically deteriorate. CNI source report

Case subjects

Alan Lynch

Defendant

Charges: cultivating cannabis worth a potential €763,560 under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, at Keelogues House, Heronford Lane, Shankill, Dublin, on June 14, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Alan Lynch (58) found himself sleeping rough after being released from prison after another sentence for possessing drugs. She said because addiction was the root of Lynch's inability to rehabilitate himself, she was prepared to list the sentence for review after six years from when he went into custody.