Police catch man smoking cannabis under a tree

Conor Dunne (19), of Ballantine Gardens, admitted the offence which occurred on July 26.

The court heard that police on patrol observed the defendant sitting under a tree, when he saw the officers they noticed him throw a black object into the tree.

They carried out a search on the defendant and the tree and found a black bag with herbal cannabis. The court heard that police found more cannabis during a search at the defendant’s house.

A defence solicitor told Lisburn Magistrates Court that Dunne is a student and relies on his mother for money. Defence said: “He had been using cannabis for a long time, that has stopped.”

Dunne had received a caution for possessing cannabis back in June, District Judge Mark Hamill said that this was his chance to avoid a criminal record. Dunne was fined £60.