Former Keogh’s potato chip company executive pleads guilty to growing cannabis plants

A former head of a potato chip company has pleaded guilty to cultivating 39 cannabis plants he said were intended to make nutritional dietary supplements as part of a “reckless” horticultural experiment.

Anthony Keogh, 64, of Newtown Lane, Oldtown, North Co. Dublin, was arrested on July 9 last year.

Horticultural expert and farmer Mr Keogh, former manager of Keogh’s Crisps, was initially charged with growing cannabis, illegal possession of drugs and possession for the purpose of sale or supply.

The offenses fall under the Drug Abuse Act.

Gardai initially estimated the value of the cannabis plants at € 19,500, but it was revised down to € 7,800, Dublin District Court announced yesterday.

Medication supply charges were lifted last month.

The Director of Public Prosecutions ordered the summary settlement on a guilty plea only, but on May 17 Judge Treasa Kelly ruled the case was too serious for the district court and should be referred to the circuit court.

Six weeks after this decision, Keogh appeared again in district court. His lawyer Tony Collier provided the court with a signed guilty plea on behalf of his client.

The judge then issued an order sending Keogh to appear in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday.

Earlier, Garda Olan Keating of the Dublin North Crime Task Force told Judge Kelly that Gardai had arrived with a warrant and searched Keogh’s greenhouse in Newtown Lane.

There were 39 plants inside and Keogh then arrived and identified himself. He confessed to Gardai that the plants were cannabis. He was arrested and taken to Ballymun Garda station.

The analysis confirmed that the plants were cannabis and that the value was now estimated at € 7,800, the court said.

Garda Keating agreed with Mr. Collier that it was not true that the plants were grown for the illegal drug trade.

The garda confirmed that Mr Keogh was an expert in horticulture and a farmer who maintained that he was growing the cannabis plants on an experimental basis and that “they were growing better than expected”.

“He didn’t have the distinction of being part of a larger criminal enterprise,” said Garda Keating.

The greenhouse was not well concealed and was located at the corner of a local road and a main road, the court said.

Mr. Keogh has no previous criminal convictions.

Arguing for accepting jurisdiction, Mr. Collier argued that the case was unique.

Mr Keogh, a farmer since the age of 15, bought hemp seeds legally, he said.

The hemp industry is growing, but its growth is restricted and requires a license from the government. However, unlicensed Mr. Keogh “jumped ahead†and cultivated the plants as nutritional food supplements.

It was reckless and displayed lack of judgment, the lawyer said.

He and his family had created brands, including a vibrant business that supported the local community and contributed nationally, the court said.

The garda was convinced that the plants were not going to find their way into the drug supply, Mr Collier said, as he begged the judge to handle the case at the district level.

Justice Kelly took note of the comments but said it was a significant effort and based on the assessment she refused jurisdiction.