A man at the centre of a controversy in which residents have been picketing his wife's house in Cork was yesterday convicted of possessing cannabis.
John Heaphy (47), with an address at Rathpeacon Road, Farranree, Cork, has been at the centre of a drugs protest by local residents for the past few weeks.
Residents and members of the anti-drugs group, Coalition of Communities Against Drugs, have been picketing the house in Rathpeacon Road, claiming Heaphy lived there.
Earlier this year Det Insp Tony Quilter of the Cork drugs squad described the house as "a virtual drugs supermarket" and said it was protected by security cameras and guard dogs.
Heaphy's wife, Helen, the registered tenant, is contesting the constitutionality of legislation used by Cork Corporation to seek her eviction from the house.
Yesterday Insp Mick Scanlon told how Garda Ollie O'Sullivan found a small "nudge of cannabis, less than a gramme" after it fell from Heaphy's pocket during a search on October 7th last year.
Heaphy had three previous convictions for drug possession for supply and three for simple possession, which were taken into account when he was jailed for eight months on the supply charges.
Judge Con O'Leary agreed with Heaphy's solicitor, Mr Frank Buttimer, that because those previous simple possessions were taken into account, he could only impose a fine on Heaphy.
He fined him £100 for having the cannabis while he adjourned making an order binding Heaphy to the peace after he left the courthouse without signing the necessary bond.
Gardai had sought to have Heaphy bound to the peace, and yesterday Garda Michael Finucane told how he found Heaphy making threats in the garden of the house in Rathpeacon Road on March 30th.
Heaphy was threatening to burn down his neighbours' houses, Garda Finucane said, and he also saw him assault Mrs Helen Heaphy and two of his children with a cosh.
Two of Heaphy's sons managed to take the cosh from him and bring him back indoors. None of the injured parties was willing to make any complaint to the Garda about the matter, he said.