A mother of one faces nine months imprisonment for possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply them.
Emma Stenson wept throughout the hearing as evidence was given of her part in a drug dealing partnership.
She was living at Moyliscar Cottage, Belvedere with her partner when gardaí arrived to search the house under warrant on November 7 2008, Garda Bobby Feery told Mullingar District Court.
There was no one home but they entered the house at 4.25pm and began a search.
Five minutes later a car pulled up outside and Ms Stenson got out, carrying her baby daughter. Her partner removed a one kilo bag of cannabis from the boot, worth €12,000.
Ms Stenson admitted to gardaí that they had “gone out the road” and collected the drug but was surprised at how much there was.
She had previously prepared cannabis into bags for her partner to sell, she admitted.
Garda Feery said the 21-year-old had been very helpful to gardaí and accepted that if she hadn’t been in the relationship, she probably wouldn’t have been involved in drug dealing.
She had never come to Garda attention and had completed her education and been working until she decided to stay at home to look after her daughter who will be two next month. Ms Patricia Cronin said her client was absolutely terrified of the consequences of her involvement and had learned “a very harsh lesson”.
She is doing her best to look after herself and her daughter, she said.
Judge John Lindsay said he had been very close to not accepting the case to be heard in the District Court but convicted Ms Stenson and ordered a probation report.
If the report is positive, its recommendations are to be followed.
If not, Ms Stenson faces a nine month sentence which is to be suspended for two years. He adjourned the case to May 27.
