Hennessy Flowers florist Ian Hennessy sentenced for cannabis offences

A Darwin florist has avoided jail after being caught with a commercial cannabis set up, but the crop will come at a serious cost. Read his punishment here.

A Top End florist has avoided jail after being busted with almost $50,000 worth of cannabis and a number of fake guns at his Noonamah farm.

Ian Hennessy, 56, was sentenced in the Supreme Court on Thursday after being arrested in February and pleading guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis and intentionally cultivating a trafficable quantity of cannabis.

The court heard that on February 10, police issued a search warrant at Hennessy’s home where he had modified a brick building on the property to use as a hydroponic grow room with “specialised lighting, fans, a hydroponic watering system and timing mechanisms”.

Police seized 1.4kg of cannabis, two replica revolvers and the complete hydroponic set up.

Ian Hennessy leaves the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory on Thursday morning. Picture: Floss Adams.

The court heard Hennessy’s cannabis use was largely to relieve chronic back pain but when asked by police about what he intended to do with the cannabis, he said: “No comment.”

The court also heard Hennessy will forfeit his share in his 26-acre Noonamah property, where he has lived for 27 years and has operated his business Hennessy Flowers, as there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the property was used for crime but he will be allowed to remain living at the property.

Hennessy’s lawyer Peter Maley said his client would lose between $50,000 and $100,000 in equity by forfeiting the property but did not oppose the action.

“It’s catastrophic from a personal perspective,” Mr Maley said.

“He’s been on this property for 30 years … he’s got his flowers, his heliconias … so he’s losing his home and business.”

Hennessy’s ex-wife Irene Hennessy told the court she would oppose the forfeiture of her share of the property.

Ms Hennessy is not implicated in the growing of cannabis and has not been charged.

In her sentencing, Justice Judith Kelly said if Hennessy had not pleaded guilty he would have been sentenced to two years in prison.

Hennessy’s lawyer Peter Maley said the loss of his client’s home was “catastrophic from a personal perspective”. Picture: Floss Adams.

“It’s not appropriate for me to sentence you to a term of actual imprisonment,” she said.

“The primary purpose of the cultivation was for your own use for the treatment and management of chronic pain.

“It is inevitable that you will suffer significant financial detriment when your share of the property is forfeited and that will include the probable loss of your home for the last nearly 30 years and your business.”

Hennessy was handed a suspended 19-month jail term.

Originally published as Hennessy Flowers florist Ian Hennessy sentenced for cannabis offences