Courts / Dublin / Report
Street trading grandmother avoids jail over cigarette bust
Summary
Mary O'Driscoll, 61, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cigarettes and tobacco for sale after being caught with nearly 14,000 cigarettes in her Summerhill home. She had bought the cigarettes in Newry, Northern Ireland, and intended to sell them on North Earl Street, Dublin. The court noted she has 119 prior convictions, 108 of which are casual trading offences, and that she has severe kidney problems requiring dialysis. Judge Melanie Greally, citing her age and ill‑health, imposed a two‑year suspended jail sentence, warning that continued street trading would lead to incarceration. The court also heard that customs officers seized the cigarettes in a child's buggy and that O'Driscoll had admitted plans to sell them at €4 per pack and €10 per packet of tobacco. The judge emphasised the need to stop her trading activities.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Street trading grandmother avoids jail over cigarette bust. Charges or matters: two counts of possessing cigarettes and tobacco for sale at her address in Summerhill, Dublin on April 2 and April 17, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2 Incident
- April 17, 2015 Incident
- April 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-10-27 Publication
Why: In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Melanie Greally told O'Driscoll the only reason she was not jailing her was because of her age and ill-health. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of possessing cigarettes and tobacco for sale at her address in Summerhill, Dublin on April 2 and April 17, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She handed down a two-year suspended sentence, noting: "If she continues with this kind of conduct she will be end up being incarcerated."
Places mentioned
- North Earl Street
- In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
- O'Driscoll's house
Topics
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