Drug addict 'trying his best to move forward'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A Castlebar man with a long history of addiction has been given a suspended jail term for possessing cannabis.
Eamon Hanrahan, of Spencer Street, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court in connection with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The court heard that the matter had been before the court on a number of previous occasions, during which no one had appeared on behalf of the defendant. On this occasion, solicitor Cathy McDarby said she was prepared to finalise the case on Hanrahan’s behalf.
A guilty plea was entered in respect of a possession offence on June 21, 2023. Gardaí told the court that Hanrahan was stopped and searched at about 6.40pm in Springfield, Castlebar, and cannabis with an estimated value of €552 was recovered.
Ms McDarby said her client has three adult children and grandchildren and is engaged in a community employment scheme. He endured a very difficult childhood and had a long history of substance abuse, beginning in his mid-20s with aerosols and later a heroin addiction. He completed a residential treatment programme in 2000 and has been free from heroin and methadone since 2011.
Ms McDarby said her client had used cannabis throughout his adult life and resumed use in more recent years while living beside friends who were also struggling with addiction. However, she explained that he is now living in a rented mobile home away from those individuals.
The court heard that Hanrahan is engaging with an addiction counsellor and is not being asked to stop abruptly, but rather to reduce his usage in a managed way. He has also undertaken studies in social studies, psychology and addiction at Atlantic Technological University and is attending regular counselling sessions.
Ms McDarby said Hanrahan had accepted an invitation to speak to students about addiction, describing how he had “laid bare” his life and personal struggles in an effort to educate others. She said he had not come to garda attention since 2023 and was making genuine efforts to move forward. He has 24 previous convictions.
Judge Sandra Murphy imposed a sentence of three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. These include engaging with the Probation Service, attending adult mental health services and continuing to engage with addiction counselling. The judge granted liberty to re-enter the case in the event of any breach.
Judge Murphy said she accepted that Hanrahan was trying his best and told him she did not want to see him back before the court again.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
