A Keady man who worked at a pharmacy in the town has been handed a combination order for possession of medications which were not prescribed to him.
Court heard the 45-year-old claimed he was addicted to painkillers when interviewed by police.
Rory John Treanor, of Madden Row, pleaded guilty to possession of class C and class B drugs at Armagh Magistrates’ on Tuesday.
It was heard that on October 7, of last year, police performed a search on the defendant’s property.
During this, they found cannabis on his person and in his bedroom.
Officers also found boxes of Diazepam which had not been prescribed to Treanor.
When interviewed, the defendant claimed that both of the drugs were for his own personal use.
He claimed they had been purchased from both a dealer and some from the internet.
Treanor also told police that he had been suffering from an addiction to painkillers for the last two years.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter informed the court that the defendant had lost his job at McKeever’s chemist where had worked for the past 12 years.
District Judge Paul Copeland commented: “That is a relief given his record”.
Adding: “As of yet you have not served a custodial sentence which is a surprise given your record.
“These are serious matters; you had no business acquiring drugs on the pretext of self-medication, there are proper and lawful routes which you well know.”
Treanor was sentenced to a combination order which includes 100 hours of community service and 18 months on probation.
Judge Copeland warned the defendant: “To use an American analogy one strike and you are out,
“In this case, one strike and you are off to Maghaberry.”
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