Man (38) fined €800 for east Mayo cannabis offences

A Slovakian national working in Mayo has been fined €800 after gardaí found 38 deal bags of cannabis and a weighing scales at his apartment.

Lukas Blasko (38), Apartment 1A, Riverpark, Bridge Street, Ballyhaunis, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to sale and supply of a controlled substance contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act at his Ballyhaunis address on November 5, 2024.

Court presenter Sergeant John O’Reilly told the court that Garda Forde obtained a search warrant following information that Blasko was involved in the sale and supply of drugs in the Ballyhaunis area.

When Garda Forde attended at the apartment, he spoke with Blasko at the front door and he guided him to a blue cooler bag.

Inside, gardaí found a black plastic tub containing 38 deal bags, each holding approximately one gram of cannabis, along with a weighing scales.

Blasko was arrested at the scene. The drugs were subsequently analysed and valued at €756 worth of cannabis.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone, representing Blasko, told Judge Vincent Deane that his client had lived and worked in Ballyhaunis for five years and had been co-operative with gardaí, leading them to where the drugs were located.

Mr. Mulchrone noted that Blasko had indicated mental health issues on a risk assessment form and described himself as having become addicted, which led him down this path.

He said Blasko had not come to the attention of gardaí since the incident and was completely clean from drugs.

Judge Deane noted that Blasko had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty, but said it was a serious offence.

He imposed a fine of €800 under section 15, with six months to pay, and took the second matter into consideration.

Legal aid was granted.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.