A son of a former MEP and Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Mark Killilea, has pleaded guilty in court to possessing drugs.
Mr Mark Killilea and his wife, Ann, were in Tuam District Court yesterday when their son, also Mark, admitted having cannabis for his own use.
Det Garda Pat Shannon said that he stopped Killilea (25), Belclare, Tuam, on April 23rd this year in his car in Tuam.
A search of the car revealed enough cannabis to make 138 joints. Det Garda Shannon said it was worth about €150, and he accepted it was for Killilea's own use.
A friend, Mr Mark Kavanagh, of Bishop Street, Tuam, was also before the court charged with possessing cannabis.
Det Garda Shannon said that on the same night he searched Mr Kavanagh's house and found €65 worth of the drug.
The court was told by defence solicitors, Mr Cathal Gibbons and Mr Seán Acton, that both defendants no longer used the drugs.
Mr Gibbons said that Killilea was a hard-working carpenter who was very ambitious.
He had never been in trouble before and was worried that a drugs convictions might prevent him from travelling to Australia or the US.
Both defendants agreed to undergo a series of urine analyses to prove they no longer smoked hash.
Judge Mary Fahy adjourned the matter to March 18th next year and indicated she would apply the Probation Act if the urine tests were clear.