Conal McAlinden, aged 30, from Lake Street, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with possession of the Class C drug Temazepam. Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. When District Judge Michael Ranaghan asked how much drugs were found on McAlinden, he was told ‘one single tablet’.
Advertisement Advertisement A prosecutor said that on March 5 this year, police stopped the defendant in Woodville Street, Lurgan and found one Temazepam tablet in his pocket. She said police gave McAlinden the opportunity to provide them with a prescription but he did not produce it. His lawyer said the defendant suffers from a number of health problems including depression and anxiety.
She explained that while he was on a number of medications he claimed they did not work and he tried to self-medicate, hence having the single Temazepam tablet. District Judge Ranaghan said: “I understand what was said about you having one tablet in your possession and the difficulties you have had. But we are simply not allowed to self-medicate in that way.
I know you know that, given your record for drugs. "But I am looking at one tablet here so the court needs to show a bit of realism despite your record. I am going to impose a fine with time to pay, Mr McAlinden,” said the district judge.
He fined the defendant £200 plus the offender levy of £15. He gave the defendant 16 weeks to pay the fine a.
