A mother, previously thrown out of the army for dealing ecstasy, had an 11-month jail sentence adjourned in the District Court this week (July 8 ) after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply more than €3,000 worth of heroin.
Detective Mark T Lucas of the Drugs Unit told the court how he attended the house of Louise McCarthy (26 ) at 190, Grotto View, Battery Heights, Athlone on foot of information received with a search warrant at noon on August 27 last year.
“We went upstairs where Ms McCarthy was and she handed over a small package of heroin,” said Det Gda Lucas.
“She said it was about five street deals [valued at €25 each].”
Det Gda Lucas also gave evidence that he found weighing scales and other drug-related paraphernalia at the scene.
He also told how McCarthy had to be brought to Portiuncula hospital after she swallowed approximately €400 worth of the drug, and whilst there she handed over another 111 “street deals”, valued at €2,775.
McCarthy had 20 previous convictions, the most relevant being a €300 fine from the Mullingar Circuit Court in February 2006 for possession with intent to supply 25 ecstasy tablets at an apartment on Pearse Street.
Detective Lucas told the court that no money was found in the raid, that McCarthy had co-operated fully with him and his colleagues, and confirmed to her solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, that she had been “known as a heroin user for several years”.
“She was selling for somebody else,” he added.
Mr McLynn told the court his client had been using “since her teens”.
“Since this [arrest] she has adopted a more positive attitude to life,” he said.
He told the court how McCarthy had started on a methadone programme and he handed in a letter from her GP confirming her drug free status.
“She has engaged with the Probation Services and is attending the Shannonbanks Project five days a week,” said Mr McLynn.
“She hopes to do a childcare course in Summerhill College in September.”
He then pointed out his client was awaiting a probation report in September, ordered at Longford District Court in May, and asked Judge John Neilan for an adjournment to coincide with this.
“She appreciates she is facing serious consequences and is appealing for a further chance,” said Mr McLynn.
“She is showing signs of trying to turn round her life.”
Judge Neilan accepted this, along with her co-operation and her guilty plea.
“Ms McCarthy is just one of the smallest fish in the pond of life,” he said.
“Possibly the only reward she got was to feed her own addiction. That's the mechanism drug lords use.
“The tragedy was, if the 111 wraps were sold, the contamination would spread into the community and undermines the whole fabric of society.”
He sentenced her to 11 months in jail but suspended its imposition until November 18 to await a pre-sentencing report from the Probation Service.
“I remember a similar case years ago in Sligo,” said Judge Neilan.
“I asked them who they were working for and your man said 'it's not worth my kneecaps'.
“This is the reign of terror.”
