Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman fails in appeal against 3-year sentence for having €128k worth of cocaine
Summary
Alison Cleary, aged 22, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €128,000 worth of cocaine in a wardrobe at her family home when she was 19. She pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply on 4 February 2015 and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 19 July 2016. Cleary appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that a three‑year term was not harsh for the amount of drugs involved. Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan, noted that the judge had appropriately considered mitigating factors such as Cleary's guilty plea, her youth, lack of prior convictions and her minor role in the drug consignment. The court found no evidence that her medical history or behaviour impaired her understanding of the seriousness of the offence, and upheld the custodial sentence. Cleary was taken to prison to continue serving her term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman fails in appeal against 3-year sentence for having €128k worth of cocaine. Charges or matters: possessing the drugs for sale or supply at her home address on February 4, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 4, 2015 Incident
- July 19, 2016 Incident
- 2016-12-05 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possessing the drugs for sale or supply at her home address on February 4, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment on July 19, 2016. Cleary had an appeal against sentence dismissed today, with the Court of Appeal holding that three years imprisonment for the amount of drugs involved was "not a harsh sentence by any means".
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