Kilkenny woman jailed for sale and supply of heroin

A four-month prison sentence was handed down to a woman convicted of having drugs in her possession for personal use and for sale and supply to others at Kilkenny District Court.

Rebekah Walsh, Shellumsrath, Kilkenny pleaded guilty to having heroin in her possession at Kilkenny Garda Station for sale and supply and personal use on December 21, 2023 and to having heroin in her possession for personal use at her home address at Shellumsrath, Kilkenny on December 11, 2023 and to a theft offence at the Maxol Garage on the Dublin Road on March 7, 2024.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that on December 21, 2023 at 1.50am at Kilkenny Garda Station search was conducted and three wraps of heroin were found along with a syringe and the defendant told gardaí that the drugs were for personal use. The heroin seized had an estimated street value of €850.

Sgt O’Connor also told the court that on December 11, 2023 at 8.30am gardaí executed a warrant to carry out a search of the defendant’s home. Her room was searched and gardaí found another small heroin in a container under the mattress.

Sgt O’Connor also outlined the facts in relation to the theft offence. On the date in question the defendant took a bag of coal, valued at €22 and put it in her car. The vehicle was subsequently stopped by gardaí and the property was recovered.

The court heard that the defendant has thirty previous convictions including convictions for assault causing serious harm, criminal damage and making threats to kill.

Solicitor Ed Hughes said that his client, who is 33, has been experimenting with drugs since the age of 9 and started using heroin at 13. She is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted her of the offences before the court and imposed a four month sentence which will run consecutively to the one the defendant is currently serving.