Prison sentence for possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Kilkenny Court

A four month sentence was handed down to a defendant who admitted having 17 wraps of cocaine in her possession at Kilkenny District Court.

Charlene McDonagh, 59 Hazelwood Upper, Dargle Road, Bray admitted the offence at Kilkenny Garda Station on March 17, 2022.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that on the date in question at 11.15pm gardaí stopped a vehicle and carried out a search after they detected a smell of cannabis in the vehicle.

The defendant handed over 17 wraps of cocaine to gardaí that she had concealed under her clothes. The cocaine was valued at €850.

The court heard that the defendant has three previous convictions including a conviction for theft, intoxication in a public place and for making off without payment.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that on the date in question the defendant had travelled to Kilkenny with five others and that the drugs were for use by the group over the weekend.

“When the guards stopped the car the drugs were handed over to her,” he said adding that at the time of the offence she was addicted to cocaine and tablets,” he said.

Mr Hogan also told the court that at the time of offence the defendant was in a relationship which has now ended.

“Since the relationship break up she has attended residential treatment and her ex-partner is serving a six-year sentence for domestic violence.

“She has not come to any adverse garda attention since she has completed her residential treatment,” said Mr Hogan who also informed the court that his client is a mother of four children who is now living in transitional accommodation.

“She was a vulnerable person at the time and has distanced herself completely from her drug using peer group.

“She has a good work history. She was not selling for financial gain, the drugs were for her and her acquaintances use over that weekend’.

Judge Geraldine Carthy described the matter before the court as ‘extremely serious’. She convicted the defendant and imposed a four month sentence.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal subject to a number of conditions.