Text to Offaly man: 'Hiya can I get the usual, a 50 lump off you?'

Man on big drugs charge walks free from Tullamore Circuit Court after impressing judge

Published 21st May 2026, 12:00 BST Sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court | Tribune Pictures Man on big drugs charge walks free from Tullamore Circuit Court after impressing judge Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

A MAN who had cannabis worth €18,000 walked free from Tullamore Circuit Court after impressing the judge from the witness box.

Claude Glynn (48), Adams Villas, Tullamore gave evidence on his own behalf during a sentencing hearing before Judge Ronan Munro.

Mr Glynn had previously pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis valued at €13,000 or more for sale or supply to others at his address on June 15 last year.

Shane Geraghty, BL, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that Mr Glynn had been living in a rental property and the drugs were found in his room there.

READ NEXT: Relentless Offaly turn on style in closing quarter

Sergeant David Harte told the court the cannabis, along with a weighing scales and “some deal bags” was found in the accused's bedroom and Mr Glynn was present when gardai arrived with a search warrant.

Mr Glynn said the drugs were his and cannabis was also found behind a pool table in a backpack.

The court was told the man said he had smoked cannabis all his life and some days he would smoke five grams having purchased the drug from various people.

Sergeant Harte said there was evidence that Mr Glynn had received a message saying “Hiya can I get the usual, a 50 lump off you?”

The drugs seized were broken down into 853 grams of plant material and 190 grams of resin.

Sergeant Harte said Mr Glynn had 14 previous convictions. Nine of them were for road traffic offences and there were others for drug possession and one for assault.

The sergeant agreed with defence counsel Marc Thompson Grolimund, SC, that the accused man said he had got involved in the offence “through a friend of a friend” but was now drug free and that had been confirmed by urine tests.

When Judge Munro said the potential 10-year sentence for the offence could only be departed from in “exceptional circumstances” Mr Thompson Grolimund mentioned Mr Glynn's early plea and said cannabis was not a “type A” drug.

He also said Mr Glynn was now in full time employment and that was a “safety net” for him. His family were also “very supportive” and the man had brought €1,250 to court as a token of reparation to society.

Defence counsel further said his client had been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder 15 years previously and one of his children had also died.

Judge Munro remarked that “smoking weed” probably would not help someone with bipolar disorder but added that it seemed to him that Mr Glynn was a “pro social person with a long standing drug problem”.

READ NEXT: Local historical society host lecture on An Garda Síochána

Mr Glynn said he regretted what he had done and now had too much to lose to offend in that way again.

“I hate myself for what I've done and I'll never go back to it,” he said.

He said it was a relief when he had been prosecuted and he gave one of his children credit for helping him to change.

“It was my youngest son who convinced me. He said 'Dad, when are you going to stop smoking?'”

He said he had not been enjoying life with his kids at all, was gaining qualifications in the construction industry, and “life is a whole lot better”.

Judge Munro warned Mr Glynn that there was a presumption in the law that he must go into custody but said the evidence of the accused had “added to his case” for an exception to be made.

After reserving his decision the judge told the man he would not be going to jail that day and adjourned finalisation of sentencing to November 18 for €2,400 to be paid to Merchants Quay, clean drug tests and evidence of counselling.

Related topics: Tullamore Circuit Court Drugs Gardaí Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.