Mayo growhouse operator is ordered to leave Ireland

A 30 year-old man who ran a growhouse operation at Islandeady, Castlebar, gave an undertaking at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court today to leave Ireland by July 20.

Judge Sean O'Donnabhaín imposed a two year prison sentence on Edgaras Stalygas but said he would suspend the sentence if the defendant pledged to leave the jurisdiction by July 20 and not return for a period of five years.

The value of the drugs seized by members of the Mayo Drugs Unit in a rented house at Islandeady was €72,000.

On June 9, 1017, a total of 90 flowering cannabis plants was discovered by gardai in an attic in the house which had been converted into two specific areas.

Cannabis with a street value of €219.20 was also recovered.

Detective Garda Sinéad Caheny told an earlier court the growhouse was part of a bigger drugs operation by a Lithuanian gang who had rented six houses throughout Ireland.

Stalygas pleaded guilty to possessing and cultivating cannabis.

At today's court Judge O'Donnabhaín was told that the defendant, who has no passport, has been promised an emergency travel documents by the Lithuanian Embassy so that he can leave the jurisdiction.

Imposing the two-year suspended sentence with the stipulation that he must leave the country, Judge O'Donnabhaín noted  the defendant's lack of English and said his best chance of rehabiliation was outside Ireland.