A legally blind pensioner acquitted of selling close to a third of a kilo of cannabis has called for the drug to be legalised for people in pain.
Evelyn Corrigan, 68, of Redwood Close in Kilnamanagh, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of 325.7 grams of cannabis at her home on 11 December 2017, but denied selling it – arguing she was only making medicine to treat her pain.
Following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty in relation to the charge of possession of cannabis for sale or supply - and Judge Pauline Codd then dismissed the charge of drugs possession under the Probation Act.
And speaking from her home following the conclusion of the case, Ms Corrigan argued that cannabis should be legalised for people in pain such as her.
“Of course it should (be legalised). For pain, yes,” she said.
“So they (people like me) don’t have to take so many painkillers that I’m going around dopey and not knowing whether I’m awake or asleep you know?”
Ms Corrigan, who has no previous convictions, said she was glad the case was finally over, after what she said was four agonising years.
“I’m glad it’s over and I’m glad I wasn’t made out to be a drug dealer.
“I did grow it but that’s as much as I done.
“I was growing it for my glaucoma and I’ve got spinal stenosis.
“I don’t think it ruined my character at all. The judge knew damn well I wasn’t selling it. I was growing it for my own.
“I’m blind in one eye and I have glaucoma in it. So I was using it for that.”
Asked if she was sorry, she said: “Sorry for what? I’m sorry it went on for four years and caused me more stress than I deserve.
“I grew it and I admit I grew it.
“Well I suppose I’m sorry for breaking the law but when I grew it I didn’t think it was actually going to break the law for growing it for myself.
“I thought it was OK because I was never going to give it to anybody else. Or sell it to anybody else.”
Asked if she would ever grow weed again after her ordeal, she said:
“No, no I would never go through that again.”
