Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentence justified for cannabis grow-house "pickers", court finds

Summary

The Court of Appeal upheld the five‑year suspended sentences imposed on Warren Bale, 45, of Castlecurragh Vale, and his nephew Kaide Fowler, 28, of Deanstown Avenue, Finglas, for their roles as "pickers" in a cannabis‑grow‑house operation. The DPP had appealed the sentences, arguing that the judge had not considered the commercial scale of the operation and had failed to weigh aggravating factors. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Paul Butler, ruled that the trial judge had fully appreciated the seriousness of the offences and the damage caused by drug abuse. He noted that Bale's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions were not alone sufficient for a suspended sentence, but his dependence on cannabis after a serious road‑traffic accident and subsequent addiction were mitigating.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence justified for cannabis grow-house "pickers", court finds. Charges or matters: possession with intent to supply cannabis at Meekstown Close, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 on June 21, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• May 7, 2015 Incident
• June 21, 2014 Incident
• 2016-07-05 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report