Courts / Louth / Report

"Pawns for the slaughter": majority of drugs defendants "desperate for money", experienced judge says

Date
2019-10-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

Judge Martin Nolan, presiding over the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, sentenced Carley O'Connor, 31, and Gemma Reilly, 27, to three years imprisonment each for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Both pleaded guilty to offences involving €34,489 worth of cocaine found in a black plastic bag in a Ford Mondeo's glove compartment. The judge noted that neither had prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had no criminal record. He emphasized that most drug defendants are not large traffickers but individuals desperate for money or debt relief, and that Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act is applied when drug values exceed €13,000. Both sentences were suspended in full on the condition that the women keep the peace and behave well for three years. The court highlighted that the defendants were not major drug pushers but "pawns for the slaughter.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Pawns for the slaughter": majority of drugs defendants "desperate for money", experienced judge says. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 24, 2017 Incident
2019-10-22 Publication

Why: He said his client had been enticed to get involved because she had a debt with a credit union. CNI source report

Case subjects

Carley O'Connor

Defendant

Charges: possession of cocaine for sale or supply (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Judge Nolan sentenced both O'Connor and Reilly to three years imprisonment, but suspended both sentences in their entirety on condition both women keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years.

Gemma Reilly

Defendant

Charges: possession of cocaine for sale or supply (Alleged Or Contested)

Unnamed accused

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty