Man pleads guilty to south Mayo growhouse charges

A 60-year-old man charged in connection with a cannabis growhouse operation in south Mayo changed his plea to guilty at a sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today.

Mareki Ajiewski had originally pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing cannabis,a controlled drug, with the intention of supplying it to others and with the cultivation of cannabis at Ballinchalla, The Neale, on April 5 last.

A jury was sworn in to hear the case and the trial was scheduled to go ahead at two o'clock this afternoon.

However, at 2 p.m. Mr. Desmond Dockery, senior counsel, informed Judge Rory MacCabe that the accused could be re-arraigned.

When two charges – relating to possessing and cultivating cannabis – were again put to Mr. Asijewski he pleaded guilty.

Judge MacCabe was told by Mr. Dockery that the accused has been in custody since April 5 last and would like sentencing to be completed as quickly as possible.

Judge MacCabe put the case back to April 24 for sentencing.