Drug charge students to avoid convictions
TWO teenage university students caught with cannabis for sale or supply in St Stephen's Green will avoid criminal records if they each pay €500 to charity.
Jason Costello (18) and Cianan Simpson (18) - described as having "good academic prospects" - had €800 worth of the drug between them when they were arrested, Dublin District Court heard.
Judge Michael Walsh told them he would apply the Probation Act, leaving them without recorded convictions, if they paid the money in three weeks.
Costello and Simpson pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply at St Stephen's Green on June 10 last year.
The court heard gardai searched the two men after becoming suspicious.
Probation reports on the defendants stated the teenagers were at a low risk of re-offending.
"I expect you both to get a job for the summer and earn the money, not to be burdening your parents with it," Judge Walsh said.
Learn
"They are young men, I hope they will learn from this experience," he added.
Their solicitor, Philip Hannon, said the accused were "very grateful". The case was adjourned to later this month.
Previously, the court heard that Costello, of Kelly's Bay Beach, and Simpson, from Quay Street, both in Skerries, north Co Dublin, were from "very good families".