A LONG-TERM cancer sufferer has appeared in court charged with possessing and cultivating cannabis plants she used for pain relief.
At Ennis District Court yesterday, Jacqueline Corris, Connolly Villas, Ennis, Co Clare, was charged with unlawfully possessing a controlled drug and cultivating cannabis plants.
Ms Corris initially appeared in court in February in relation to the charge, and the case was adjourned to yesterday for the preparation of a probation report.
In evidence, Garda Francis Brennan said that during a search of Ms Corris’s home on October 24th last, gardaí found 13 cannabis plants that would have a street value of €5,200. Ms Corris admitted she grew the plants for her personal use and said they were to treat her condition.
Ms Corris’s solicitor, Joe Chambers, told the court Ms Corris “is a long-standing cancer sufferer from her early teens and that would be her main problem”.
On the previous appearance in court, Mr Chambers said: “Ms Corris has the cancer gene. She has had it all of her life. It is a family problem.”
He said Ms Corris’s last bout of cancer was in 2006, but added: “It is an ongoing problem.”
Ms Corris is self-employed and has no previous convictions.
Judge Pat Durcan said: “The report is very positive and one must compliment Ms Corris on the efforts she has made to remedy the situation.
“There has been an early plea; she is not part of any ring. What was grown was cultivated for personal use and she is unlikely to reoffend.”
Judge Durcan said he would balance all of this against the seriousness of the offence. He would adjourn the case for six months and if there were no difficulties of any kind between now and then, he would strike out the charges.
Judge Durcan remanded Ms Corris on continuing bail to Ennis District Court on October 10th.
