Zoo cleaner gets fully suspended sentence for cultivation of cannabis in his rented home

By Jessica Magee

A zoo cleaner caught cultivating 32 cannabis plants in a rented house in Dublin has been given a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Artur Bromirski (45) pleaded guilty to the cultivation of cannabis worth €25,600 at an address in Moyville estate, Rathfarnham, on December 8, 2017.

At his sentencing yesterday, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Bromirski originally faced the more serious charge of possessing drugs for sale or supply, but that this was dropped, leaving just the count of cultivation.

The court heard that Bromirski said the plants were for his own use and that gardaí found no evidence in the house of the usual drug-dealing paraphernalia, such as weighing scales or tick lists.

Bromirski had a previous address in Broadfield, Naas, Co Kildare, but now lives in Poland, where he works as a cleaner at a zoo, the court heard.

Garda Padraic Syon told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that neighbours at Moyville estate alerted the landlord after their suspicions were raised.

When the landlord tried to gain entry into the premises, he found the locks had been changed and went to gardaí.

Gardaí got a warrant to search the house and, noticing a smell, found that two upstairs bedrooms were being used to cultivate cannabis.

They discovered two growing tents, lighting equipment, irrigation materials and 32 cannabis plants at various stages of maturity.

Bromirski was not present, but he returned within a few days and told gardaí he was a long-term user of cannabis.

He was arrested and remanded on bail, during which he travelled back and forth to Poland, abiding by his bail conditions at all times, the court heard.

Garda Syon agreed with Garret Baker SC, defending, that Bromirski made early admissions and has no previous convictions.

He had been subletting the property in Rathfarnham from another tenant, counsel said.

Bromirski told gardaí that he had suffered a significant back injury while working as a gardener in Ireland and that the cannabis helped him.

The court heard that Bromirski’s wife died tragically in 2015 and that the frequency of his cannabis abuse spiralled out of control after this bereavement.

Mr Baker presented a doctor’s letter showing that his client is now receiving medical marijuana on a legal basis in Poland as a treatment for his back injury.

Bromirski has three children, and Judge Crowe acknowledged that he is working and contributing to society.

Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this on account of Bromirksi’s personal and mitigating circumstances to two years, suspended in full.