Courts / Tipperary / Report

Cannabis grower was at large from 12-year sentence

Summary

Wales-born Wesley Purse, 40, was convicted in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court for possessing and cultivating €42,000 worth of cannabis in Rossadrehid, County Tipperary. He received a five‑year prison sentence on 29 June 2018, a term he now seeks to appeal in the Court of Appeal. Purse, who had 92 prior convictions, was also "at large" from a 12‑year sentence imposed in Stafford Crown Court, England, when he was arrested in Tipperary. His barrister, Philip Sheahan SC, argued that the headline sentences of eight years for possession and six years for cultivation were excessive, noting that the plants were at various stages of production and that the €42,000 valuation was not comparable to higher‑valued cases. The Court of Appeal heard the arguments and reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced. Wesley Purse pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cannabis grower was at large from 12-year sentence. Charges or matters: possession and cultivation of €42,000 cannabis at Rossadrehid on May 3, 2017. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• May 3, 2017 Incident
• June 29, 2018 Incident
• 2019-06-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

Related court reports

• Tipperary man admits attempted murder
• Trial date set for woman and teenager accused of murdering Scarlett Faulkner
• Teenage boy pleads guilty to manslaughter
• Irish Rail and council in dispute over signal mast near 'Gothic revival' station
• Six years for man who killed his friend after night of 'excess'
• Careless truck driver who caused death of former Garryowen rugby player fails in sentence appeal

Read the original CNI report