A PLASTERER who grew up “neglected, abused, unwanted and uncared for” is to carry out community service in lieu of prison for his “harebrained idea” of growing cannabis in his box room to feed his drug addiction.
Paul Prince (24), a son of drug addicts who had fended for himself since the age of six, obtained a trade and held down a steady job despite his cannabis addiction. He grew the cannabis to save money.
Prince, a father of one, of Grangeview Grove, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis resin at his home on October 18th, 2006.
Judge Katherine Delahunt said his offence appeared to be a “money-saving operation” and the amounts involved were not substantial.
Judge Delahunt ordered him to complete 200 hours’ community service within 15 months in lieu of two years’ imprisonment. She also imposed a one-year sentence but suspended it in full for two years.
Anne Maire Prince said she and her violent husband had been “strung out to pieces” during Prince’s childhood. She said she now had a good relationship with her son.