Courts / Dublin / Report
Mortgage pressure saw man set-up sophisticated grow-house
Summary
Garry Gibson, 39, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after setting up a sophisticated two‑level grow‑house in his home. The court heard that Gibson had no prior convictions and that he had been under financial pressure from rising mortgage payments. He admitted to modifying the property to create the grow‑house, bypassing electricity, and that he had already completed two or three cultivation cycles. During the search, 50 mature plants and 1.4 kg of cannabis were seized, valued at over €68,000. Gibson accepted responsibility, stating he was working but had been injured and could not work for a time. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reduced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted Gibson had not been a "gillie" but had engaged in the offence for profit.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mortgage pressure saw man set-up sophisticated grow-house. Charges or matters: possession of cannabis for sale or supply on May 3, 2023 at another address in Tallaght. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 3, 2023 Incident
- 2024-10-22 Publication
Why: It was further accepted that the search of the house was suspended until the ESB arrived because the electricity had been bypassed. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of cannabis for sale or supply on May 3, 2023 at another address in Tallaght (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Imposing sentence today, Judge Elva Duffy acknowledged that Gibson accepted that he had carried out the modifications at the property to set up the grow-house. Judge Duffy set a headline sentence of seven and a half years before she imposed a sentence of five years.
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