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A chronic back pain sufferer who grew cannabis in a lit, ventilated tent in his bedroom to medicate himself told gardai (police) he did not know it was illegal, a court heard.

Gardai who raided Eamonn Owens' house found four plants worth $2,000 being grown under lamps with a fan trained on them, and harvested leaves stored in the wardrobe, along with fertilizer and books on how to cultivate the drug.

Dublin District Court heard gardai had to break in the bedroom door because he was out at the time of the search, and kept it locked to keep what he was doing from his teenage nephew.

Owens (28) was given a three-month suspended sentence when he pleaded guilty to drugs charges at Dublin District Court.
[Source: Evening Herald]

FERMANAGH

Fermanagh language expert Joseph Shields has joined a string of Hollywood stars as a member of France’s National Order of Arts and Letters, the country’s highest cultural award.

The Irishman received the award last Monday night in Strasbourg for his work promoting the French language and culture.

Previous recipients of the award include Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine, Grammy award-winner Stevie Wonder and James Bond star Roger Moore.

He was nominated to be a Commander of the Arts and Letters by former French culture minister Frédéric Mitterrand.
[Source: Irish Times]

GALWAY

Two Galway brothers have been jailed for nine years for membership of a criminal organization, marking the first sentence under new anti-gang legislation.

Michael O’Loughlin (32) of Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane and Eddie O’Loughlin (28) of Rockfield Park, Rahoon both pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of a criminal organization in the Galway area between February 10 and June 1, 2010.

Judge Martin Nolan praised the work of the Garda (police) investigation, known as Operation Foolscap, which was headed by Detective Inspector Gerard Roche. It resulted in the arrest of the brothers and 10 of their associates.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

A junior cert student in Tralee who is took his exams in his home because of his cancer has raised thousands of euro which he hopes will help provide a den in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin.

Donal Walsh of Blennerville, a student at CBS The Green, has to sit his exams at home to prevent the risk of infection as he recovers.
[Source: Irish Times]

KILDARE

Communities throughout Co. Kildare are moving to set up more and more Community Alert and Neighborhood Watch schemes, following the recent high-profile attacks on elderly residents in rural areas highlighted in the national media.

According to the county’s Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt. Conor McMahon, there has recently been an upsurge in demand for these schemes and the gardaí (police) were “delighted to see them springing up.”

“After incidents like the one in Galway, involving the two elderly men, there definitely seems to be a heightened awareness of the issue,” said Sgt. McMahon, who is based in Naas.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY

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Nster.com