A JUDGE noted that a Limerick man who was before her on charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply had been using drugs since he was just 12 years old.
John Dowling (24), of Castle View in Newcastle West, was in court on charges of possession of €280 worth of cocaine (3.9 grammes) and €50 worth of cannabis when Gardaí searched his home address on October 3, 2020.
His solicitor told Judge Ann Coolican that the probation report on his client was “favourable”.
He told Newcastle West District Court that Dowling had “dabbled with drug use when he was growing up”.
“This escalated during Covid. His employment was gone. He lost that stability in his life.”
Inspector Gearoid Thomson said that Dowling “did not come to Garda attention before or since” the offences before the court.
Judge Coolican noted from the probation report that “he has a history of drugs from the age of 12”.
She noted that he had “distanced himself” from certain elements and was not at risk of re-offending.
Judge Coolican imposed a fine of €500 for possession of drugs for sale or supply and €200 on the charge of possession of cannabis.
