The men travelled regularly by boat from Oughterard pier, which is 5km from Inchagoill Island, to tend the plants before they were caught by gardaí in October 2014.

James Morris, aged 29, of 11, John Coogan Park, Newcastle, Galway; John McInerney, aged 30, of 29, John Coogan Park, Newcastle; and Michael McNamara, aged 32, of 30, Camillaun Park, Newcastle, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court last July to having cannabis in their possession which was for sale or supply to others at Inchagoill Island on Lough Corrib, on October 16, 2014.

All three pleaded guilty last July to the cultivation of the cannabis plants.