Man was selling cannabis in Laois to pay debt

A probation report was ordered for a man who was selling cannabis to pay off a debt.

Shaun Cretaro, 45, of 26 Railway Mews, Portarlington admitted having cannabis for sale or supply at his address on August 26, 2021. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said Det Garda Montgomery searched the defendant’s address and found “cannabis in varying quantities around the house” amounting to a total value of €5,646. 

He said the defendant admitted he was dealing to pay off a loan and a debt. He said the man has seven previous convictions, four of which are under the misuse of drugs act. 

Suzanne Dooner BL said her client had suffered with drug addiction issues throughout his life. She told Judge Andrews that her client had produced clean drug urine analysis for 2022 and 2023. 

She said he was pleading guilty and had cooperated with gardaí. Ms Dooner said the case had originally been struck out due to delays in preparation of the book of evidence. 

“They (DPP) came again and he is entering a plea at this stage,” she said. 

Ms Dooner said her client would be grateful for an opportunity to engage with the probation services. 

Judge Nicola Andrews noted the early plea and the efforts made by the defendant and said a probation report would be helpful. 

“He is trying. I would greatly be assisted by the provision of that report,” she remarked. 

She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on May 27 for a probation report. 

 “It would be in his extreme best interest not to come to the attention of An Garda Siochana between now and then,” warned Judge Andrews.