Ballykelly man in possession of Viagra made '˜monumental misjudgement'

Deputy District Judge Peter King made the comment when he was sentencing Barry Orrin McGuigan at Limavady Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The court heard at 10.10pm on December 4th last year, police in Ballykelly were stopped by McGuigan and another male.

The 24-year-old, with an address at Riverview, Ballykelly, asked to speak with police in confidence, and they suspected he was the under the influence of a substance.

McGuigan pulled his hand out of his pocket and clenched his fist.

The court heard it was thought he had a green leafy substance in a bag.

He refused to open his fist, but admitted it was cannabis and proceeded to swallow the bag.

A subsequent search of McGuigan’s address discovered various paraphernalia, and suspected Viagra tablets.

When cautioned by police, McGuigan said: “I wish you’d found anything but them.”

Defence solicitor Paddy McGurk said it illustrated that enquiries with police were best left to the cold light of day. He said the incident showed the lack of guile, and an innocence on McGuigan’s part.

Mr McGurk said there was nothing found during the search to suggest the drugs were for anything but McGuigan’s own personal use.

Deputy District Judge KIng told McGuigan: “This was monumental misjudgement on your part.”

For the offences of obstructing the powers of search for drugs, possession of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, and possession of a medicinal product without a prescription, McGuigan was fined £150 and sentenced to complete 12 months probation.