Love/Hate actor in court on drug dealing charge

A young actor who featured in the controversial cat-killing scene in the hit RTÉ crime series Love/Hate has appeared in court accused of cannabis dealing.

Leroy Harris (19) has been given three weeks to consider how he will plead after he was charged with unlawful possession of a quantity of cannabis worth €110, and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply near his home at Sheriff Street, in north inner city Dublin, on October 14th.

He appeared at Dublin District Court today charged with the offences.

Dressed in a red jumper, navy tracksuit bottoms and blue runners, he remained silent during the brief hearing and a plea has not yet been indicated.

Judge Cormac Dunne was told by a court sergeant that the DPP had directed that the case should be dealt with at district court level. The only details given in relation to the allegations were that the case involved drugs "value €110, cannabis herb".

Judge Dunne accepted jurisdiction and agreed to a request from defence solicitor Cahir O’Higgins to adjourn the case to allow time for the prosecution to hand over a summary of its evidence.

There was no objection bail and legal aid was granted after the court heard that the 19-year-old was unemployed. Mr Harris was ordered to appear again in three weeks when he will be expected to enter a plea.

The actor, who has an address at from Mariner’s Port, Dublin, is set to make more appearances in Love/Hate. His role in the opening scene of the current series was at the centre of a controversy for its graphic depiction of his on-screen character, Glen, filming his friend Wayne firing shots from an automatic weapon and killing a cat.

He previously earned a nomination for an award from the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) for his role in the RTÉ series Prosperity, where he played the role a teenager bullied because he had a stammer.

Following the short hearing today, Mr O’Higgins gave a statement on his client’s behalf.

The lawyer told reporters that his client is “very respectful of the court process and court procedures and is anxious to conduct himself in a way that would not jeopardise his future”.