NEIGHBOURLY concern led Gardaí to discover an elaborate cannabis growing facility in the bedrooms of a house at 29 Elm Park, Tramore and a second cannabis factory at a second residence in the town.

Two bedrooms had been taken over by the harvesting of the drugs, with plants in various stages of growth and cannabis drying out on hangers in the wardrobe, while ready to use cannabis was also located in jars.

James McCarthy of 10 Donerail Court, Tramore, appeared before Waterford Circuit Court last week where he went on trial for two counts of the sale or supply of cannabis, at 29 Elm Park, Tramore and at 10 Donerail Court, Tramore on December 18, 2009, where more evidence of a cultivation facility was discovered in the attic. The court heard that he bought the equipment and seeds online, and taught himself how to grow the drug by following instructions he found on the internet.

After deliberating for over two hours on Friday afternoon, the jury of five women and seven men found him not guilty of the sale or supply of the drug. However the 44-year-old has pleaded guilty to two counts of possession and two counts of cultivation arising out of the same incident. He is due back in court today for sentencing.