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Money pressures ahead of child's confirmation saw mum store drugs

Summary

Sonia Collins, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 4 last year. The court heard that Collins told gardaí she was under financial pressure ahead of her child's confirmation and had incurred a €200 drug debt after purchasing cocaine for social use. She claimed she agreed to hold the drugs for a short period but they were never collected. Garda Vincent Jaffray testified that officers searched the residence following a tip-off, and Collins immediately showed them the cannabis stored under the stairs. A small child was present during the search, and Collins was not arrested on the spot; she presented at Tallaght Garda Station days later to be charged. Collins declined to identify the person who supplied the drugs, citing safety fears. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted mitigating factors, including her status as a single mother of three, her early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and lack of significant criminal history, arguing against the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years on the condition that Collins remain drug-free.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Money pressures ahead of child's confirmation saw mum store drugs. Charges or matters: one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin on March 4, last year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 4 Incident
• 2020-07-30 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report