Derry man queried on smell of cannabis told police 'it's in the air here, everyone is smoking it'
A Derry man who was stopped by police due to tinted car windows and later quizzed about a cannabis aroma told police 'it's in the air here, everyone is smoking it’, the City’s Magistrate’s Court has been told.
John Paul Muldoon (26) of Galliagh Park in Derry was disqualified from driving and ordered to undergo probation after he admitted a series of driving offences that occurred in 2025 and this year.
Muldon appeared before the Magistrate’s Court sitting in Derry on Friday.
The court heard that on May 31 last year an off duty officer from the Police Service of Northern Ireland observed a vehicle being driven at speed, at times up to 100 miles per hour.
Then on January 4 this year police came upon a vehicle in a car park and observed that the windows had an illegal tint on them.
As police approached the vehicle they said they noticed a strong smell of cannabis.
The court was told that the driver, Muldoon, then became aggressive and drove off at speed with his wing mirror striking the body worn camera of an officer.
The vehicle was located later and Muldoon was arrested.
He was asked about the smell of cannabis and told police 'it's in the air here, everyone is smoking it'.
The court then heard about an incident on May 18 when vehicle driven by Muldoon was observed being driven erratically and going through a red light on the Strand Road.
Muldoon was sentenced to 18 months probation and a 18 month disqualification as well as being fined £150.