200hrs community service for 1/5 of a gram of Pot

One eyed Jack · 13-11-2015 01:43PM

asherbassad wrote: »

Her responsibilities as a parent.

Do you know something about her parenting skills that the rest of us don't?

No, I don't. Everyone can see that risking breaking the law is a bad idea when you're a parent who is responsible for a child.

awec · 13-11-2015 01:46PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

No, I don't. Everyone can see that risking breaking the law is a bad idea when you're a parent who is responsible for a child.

Give over.

She was caught with a bit of weed, not a needle hanging out of her arm.

smash · 13-11-2015 01:47PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

What's actually stupid, is getting caught with drugs.

What's stupid about the sentence? It's 200 hours community service, not a custodial sentence, she was back with her child an hour later, and is unlikely to want to appear in the dock again.

It's illegal to drink on the streets. If you were caught with an open can of Heineken and sentenced to 200 hours community service would you feel the same?

ceannair06 · 13-11-2015 01:51PM

smash wrote: »

It's illegal to drink on the streets. If you were caught with an open can of Heineken and sentenced to 200 hours community service would you feel the same?

To quote Lethal Weapon 3 "cos beer's legal and grass aint".

Bob24 · 13-11-2015 01:52PM

It's OK to quote the judge's name in the article so that everyone can blame him. But on the other end there is no way to quote the name of the person who got sentenced or give any details about her background or potential previous convictions which might have lead to that decision (just writing "she was not previously known of the police and had not received any previous conviction" would have been easy and cleared up any potential questioning).

We might not be told everything about this.

Samaris · 13-11-2015 01:54PM

crazygeryy wrote: »

she ll be very slow to do it again.
job done.
and her poor children and family my arse,does she think of the children when shes stoned off her knockers?

I don't know, what does anyone think of the children after a couple of glasses of sherry?

Seriously, one joint/E10s worth isn't actually that much. It's probably the equivalent of a glass or two.

smash · 13-11-2015 01:55PM

ceannair06 wrote: »

To quote Lethal Weapon 3 "cos beer's legal and grass aint".

The act is still illegal. That's why I presented the scenario.

One eyed Jack · 13-11-2015 01:57PM

smash wrote: »

It's illegal to drink on the streets. If you were caught with an open can of Heineken and sentenced to 200 hours community service would you feel the same?

Of course I wouldn't, because I'd be stupid enough to drink in the street in the first place even though I knew it was illegal.

I wouldn't risk it, knowing the possible consequences. The woman in the OP clearly felt differently, and she got caught for it.

Seems a bit obvious surely?

ComfortKid · 13-11-2015 01:59PM

Ah she must of had a load of previous convictions or something. I got caught with a half oz of high quality buds before and only got fined 200e.

Most community service orders handed out are around 140 hours and thats for serious crimes and repeat offenders. Theres more to this story I guarantee it.

Samaris · 13-11-2015 02:00PM

You wouldn't feel that 200hrs was a bit harsh for a slap-on-the-wrist job though?

Red Kev · 13-11-2015 02:04PM

I think the issue here is the erratic sentencing that we constantly see in court cases. You see some fella up on his 100th + conviction being let off with a suspended sentence for assault or theft or driving without a licence, tax, insurance etc.

Then you see this woman being given 200 hours for what is a relatively trivial offence. Yes, I know she broke a law, but this is a joke (the fact she is a 'good mother' should have nothing to do with it'.

The fella with over 100 convictions doesn't get community service because they don't give a shlt and just don't turn up; the person in charge of them won't write them down as absent because they are afraid of them.

Of course we don't know if she has previous convistions, but usually that would be mentioned in the article so, we can provisionally take it that she has no previous convictions until we know otherwise.

I'm all in favour of community service and rehabilitation work, but 20 hours would nearly be excessive in this case.

Zaidan is one of the more erratic and inconsistent judges in the country, he seems to thrive on publicity for bizarre sentencing.

I think this is what's annoying people, the fact that he came down so hard on her yet bigger, serial offenders just walk out the door.

harry Bailey esq · 13-11-2015 02:09PM

I didnt read the link, but I reckon there's more to this.My own theory would be that they raided her gaf expecting to find a lot more,probably wrecking the poor womans house in the process,but found what amounts to less than enough for a spliff,so they charged her on it to justify the raid and avoid compensating for the damage they caused to doors/windows etc.Its quite a common practice, just rarely makes the papers.I've been caught with more than that on the street and the worst thing that would happen would be confiscation. On occasion, I've even had it had it handed back to me.
Also the local dope merchants in naas must be raking it in if the locals are paying 50 quid a poxy gram.

Peist2007 · 13-11-2015 02:11PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

What's actually stupid, is getting caught with drugs.

What's stupid about the sentence? It's 200 hours community service, not a custodial sentence, she was back with her child an hour later, and is unlikely to want to appear in the dock again.

200 hours for one fifth of a gram of pot is an extremely stupid sentence. Do you know how much one fifth a gram of pot is worth?

Bob24 · 13-11-2015 02:12PM

Red Kev wrote: »

Of course we don't know if she has previous convistions, but usually that would be mentioned in the article so, we can provisionally take it that she has no previous convictions until we know otherwise

I would dispute this. Do you read "KildareNow" regularly? Do you know who is writing for it and if they are a reputable source? Do you have any example of how they usually report previous convictions or not?

I wouldn't make any assumption either way.

smash · 13-11-2015 02:12PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Of course I wouldn't, because I'd be stupid enough to drink in the street in the first place even though I knew it was illegal.

I wouldn't risk it, knowing the possible consequences. The woman in the OP clearly felt differently, and she got caught for it.

Seems a bit obvious surely?

200 hours has never been a possible consequence of having €10 worth of pot, until now.

It's also not a possible consequence of having an open can of beer on the street so I seriously doubt you'd say to yourself "better not go outside with this can in case I get 200 hours..."

DamagedTrax · 13-11-2015 02:16PM

Red Kev wrote: »

Zaidan is one of the more erratic and inconsistent judges in the country, he seems to thrive on publicity for bizarre sentencing.

Desmond needs investigating quickly. He once jailed a guy for kissing his girlfriend as she was leaving by the back of the court room. He left him in cells overnight until he apologised to the court.

Now he wasnt getting stuck into her or anything, just kissing her goodbye quickly.

Desmond Zaidan is not of the correct state of mind to make sound and fair judgements IMO.

He has jailed people for incidents that are not criminal offences under Irish statute

Tzetze · 13-11-2015 02:18PM

Peist2007 wrote: »

200 hours for one fifth of a gram of pot is an extremely stupid sentence. Do you know how much one fifth a gram of pot is worth?

€10, according to the authorities. They ought to knnow, right?

(I'd say about three fiddy.)

Peist2007 · 13-11-2015 02:20PM

Tzetze wrote: »

€10, according to the authorities. They ought to knnow, right?

(I'd say about three fiddy.)

Possibly even less than a tenner. Completely draconian and ridiculous. Especially when you see the clear moves being made towards decriminalisation. Judge sounds like he needs to be told a few things.

bodice ripper · 13-11-2015 02:21PM

Tis actually about three fiddy. Well played

ComfortKid · 13-11-2015 02:22PM

A gram is 20 quid in most places, enough for about 3 joints which would about the same effect as 3 pints. Mellow for an hour or 2 at most.

DamagedTrax · 13-11-2015 02:24PM

ComfortKid wrote: »

A gram is 20 quid in most places, enough for about 3 joints which would about the same effect as 3 pints. Mellow for an hour or 2 at most.

A gram should be roughly 15 euro. there's 28g in an ounce.

If you're paying 20 per g, you're getting fleeced! (or your supplier is and is passing cost onto you).

circadian · 13-11-2015 02:30PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Can't handle the time, don't do the crime....simple as that imo.

If you break the law you must accept the consequences, she has only herself to blame.

What about the repeat offenders with over 100 court appearances for violence etc? They rarely seem to do the time.

200 hours is not proportionate for the crime committed.

Peist2007 · 13-11-2015 02:30PM

ComfortKid wrote: »

A gram is 20 quid in most places, enough for about 3 joints which would about the same effect as 3 pints. Mellow for an hour or 2 at most.

I would be leaning towards you being a Walter Mitty type based on that comment.

SEPT 23 1989 · 13-11-2015 02:32PM

Do the young folk not deal in "spots" ,"blocks" and "bars" anymore

whats all this "gram" carry on?

walks away slowly on zimmerframe

ComfortKid · 13-11-2015 02:32PM

Peist2007 wrote:

I would be leaning towards you being a Walter Mitty type based on that comment.

What is a Walter Mitty type?

DamagedTrax · 13-11-2015 02:33PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Do the young folk not deal in "spots" and "blocks" and "bars" anymore

whats all this "gram" carry on?

walks away slowly on zimmerframe

we're European now innit?

Peist2007 · 13-11-2015 02:35PM

ComfortKid wrote: »

What is a Walter Mitty type?

A fantasist. Or, in the alternative, you havent a clue what you are on about.

suicide_circus · 13-11-2015 02:35PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Do the young folk not deal in "spots" and "blocks" and "bars" anymore

whats all this "gram" carry on?

walks away slowly on zimmerframe

In the days of low grade hash those measures were appropriate.

DamagedTrax · 13-11-2015 02:36PM

ComfortKid wrote: »

I smoke it and in my town and most towns around mine its 50e for 3 grams or 20 for a gram. 400e or sometimes even 450e for an ounce. If you can get it much cheaper than that, drop me a PM and I'll make you rich!

:eek:

i suspect there are many people in this thread that could make you rich... thats some steep priced weed you're getting!

harry Bailey esq · 13-11-2015 02:36PM

ComfortKid wrote: »

A gram is 20 quid in most places, enough for about 3 joints which would about the same effect as 3 pints. Mellow for an hour or 2 at most.

That's expensive. It costs me 100 quid for 7grams.I would typically use 1/3 of a gram a spliff.Value was probably around 3 quid.I wonder how much the solicitors,court clerk, garda hours and indeed zaidan fees cost the state? More than 3 f*ckin quid you can be sure :mad:

200hrs community service for 1/5 of a gram of Pot

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