Tullow man jailed after €5k cannabis found hidden behind couch
A man who was caught with €5,000 worth of cannabis in the home he shared with his partner has been jailed for 21 months.
Michal Plecha (50) of Shroughaun Close, Tullow, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to having cannabis valued at €5,100 and amphetamine valued at €525 at his home on November 27, 2024. He has two previous convictions including one for assault.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen chainsaw and stolen bicycle on the same occasion but it was accepted in court that there was “an element of recklessness around the origin of that property”.
Brian O’Shea BL, prosecuting, told the court that a warrant was secured to search Plecha’s home and the drugs were found in a sportsbag hidden behind a couch in the sitting room. A digital weighing scales and plastic bags were also discovered, along with €900 in cash.
The court heard that the stolen bicycle and chainsaw were also found.
On arrest Plecha accepted he owned the drugs but denied he was selling them. The court heard that gardaí suspect he was dealing because of the scales and bagging material found at Plecha’s home.
Plecha also claimed the cash had been saved in order to buy a car but the court heard that gardaí suspect it is the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Both the chainsaw and the bicycle had been previously stolen from the homeowner’s shed. Plecha claimed he had bought the chainsaw second hand for €200. He said a friend had left the bike behind when he was visiting previously.
Tara Geoghegan BL, defending, accepted that her client’s engagement with The Probation Service had been “sporadic” and that he had not taken full advantage of the services and supports offered to him.
She said Plecha acted as a primary carer for his partner.
Ms Geoghegan asked the court to deal with Plecha in “a non-custodial way” in order to allow him to engage in a better way with The Probation Service to allow him to deal with the risk factors that they have identified.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly set a headline sentence of three years for the drug offence and two years for the possession of stolen property.
He acknowledged that Plecha had a good work history until he left work to become a full-time carer for his partner.
Judge O’Kelly said Plecha’s interaction with The Probation Service was “highly concerning” in that he had inconsistent attendance and engagement.
He noted that Plecha had agreed to be referred to addiction services but “his follow through has been poor”.
A report from The Probation Service concluded that Plecha “does not view his current life style or decision making as problematic” and has shown “a limited level of insight” into his offending behaviour.
Judge O’Kelly imposed concurrent sentences of two years and three months and 18 months for both offences. He said “in view of his partner’s health” he would suspend the final six months of that term on condition that Plecha engage with the Probation Service for six months upon his release and follow all their directions.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
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