Man who ran cannabis growhouse gets three-year jail term

A 56-year-old man who operated a large scale, sophisticated cannabis growhouse in south Mayo was sentenced to a total of three years in prison at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today (Tuesday).

Almost 300 cannabis plants, with a street value of €237,600, were discovered by gardaí when they raided a house at Ballinchalla, The Neale, which was being rented by Mariek Asijewski.

Asijewski, a Polish national, pleaded guilty at a court in January to the possession of cannabis, a controlled drug, with intent to supply, and to the cultivation of cannabis.

At today's sentencing hearing, Garda Nicola Dolan said the discovery of the growhouse following a search under warrant on April 5 of last year was the most significant drugs find ever in the Mayo garda division.

The ESB meter in the house was bypassed in order to provide free electricity for the growhouse operation.

Cannabis plants were discovered growing in two upstairs bedrooms, a downstairs bedroom and in an attic space, the court heard.

Mr. Desmond Dockery, defence barrister, said the defendant had fallen on hard times in Poland where he worked in mapping and surveying. He then came to Ireland to meet a person a Polish friend had put him in contact with. He was given money provided he sign a lease to rent a house, leaving his own name and paying a deposit.

Mr. Dockery said the accused had stayed in the house from January to September 2016. He was told in January 2017 to return to the house, which had been converted into a cannabis growhouse.

Initially, according to counsel, Asijewski refused to participate and was beaten by two men as a result.

Counsel went on to describe the accused as 'vulnerable'. He had been 'a foot soldier' in the growhouse operation.

Sentencing Asijewski to a total of three years in prison, Judge Rory MacCabe said he had been part of a significant drugs enterprise.

The judge backdated the sentence to take account of the 13 months Asijewski has already spent in prison since his arrest.

The judge made an order for the destruction of the drugs seized.