Mark Shepherd of Aiden Street, Kiltimagh, appeared before Castlebar District Court on a charge of section 3 possession of drugs relating to March 30 this year.[1] Garda Costello was on patrol on Main Street, Kiltimagh, when he saw a Ford Focus owned by Shepherd and stopped the vehicle.[1] The driver did not have a licence and was identified as Shepherd.[1] The garda detected a strong smell of cannabis and found the drug in the vehicle.[1] He cautioned Shepherd and carried out a memo interview.[1] Shepherd admitted the cannabis was for his own use.[1]
The court heard the cannabis was valued at EUR 551.40.[1] The court heard Shepherd has one previous conviction relating to a road traffic offence.[1]
Shepherd, who represented himself, told the court that he had quit cannabis.[1] He said he no longer had a doctor but had new lines of enquiry towards getting a new GP.[1] He said he was off cannabis and wanted to prove it to the court.[1] Judge Vincent Deane asked how soon he could show this.[1] Shepherd said he was happy to give a hair sample to prove it.[1] The judge adjourned the case to Wednesday, March 3, for the result of a hair follicle test.[1]