Courts / Louth / Report
MS sufferer who imported cannabis for pain relief avoids jail
Summary
Llyod Pennant, a 60‑year‑old man from Dundalk diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis and to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 4 June 2019. He had been stopped by customs after disembarking from a ferry, where the cannabis was found in his hand luggage in two bags, valued at €19,800. Pennant claimed he had collected the drugs in the UK for his own use to relieve pain, as he cannot take MS injections when his blood pressure falls. He has 16 prior convictions, including deception and possession of stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, describing the case as "exceptional", imposed a four‑year prison sentence but suspended the entire term on strict conditions, citing Pennant's medical needs and the difficulty of imprisonment for someone with MS. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: MS sufferer who imported cannabis for pain relief avoids jail. Charges or matters: importing drugs at Terminal 2, Alexandra Road, Dublin Port, on June 4, 2019; possession of cannabis for sale or supply at the same address on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 4, 2019 Incident
- 2021-01-25 Publication
Why: Judge Nolan said this was "an exceptional case" principally because of the accused suffering from MS. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: importing drugs at Terminal 2, Alexandra Road, Dublin Port, on June 4, 2019; possession of cannabis for sale or supply at the same address on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said his stay in prison would be "very difficult" if he imposed a sentence. He sentenced Pennant to four years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Fraud Stage Sentence Theft
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