Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman ordered to return to Brazil believed to be still in Ireland, collecting PUP
Summary
Bianca Francisco, a 24‑year‑old Brazilian rickshaw driver, was sentenced to a 12‑month suspended prison term for possessing and intending to sell ecstasy tablets. The court imposed the suspension on the condition that she leave Ireland within three months. Francisco had been living in Dublin and was believed to still be in Ireland, as she was collecting Pandemic Unemployment Payments. She failed to appear at the Court of Appeal to appeal her sentence, and the appeal was struck out. The judge noted that under the Criminal Justice Act a suspended sentence can be revoked if the terms are breached. Francisco had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession for sale or supply of a controlled substance and had been on bail for an earlier drug offence. The court considered her economic circumstances but did not excuse her conduct. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the suspended sentence in place.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman ordered to return to Brazil believed to be still in Ireland, collecting PUP. Charges or matters: unlawful possession for sale or supply of a controlled substance at her home, was on bail at the time awaiting sentence for a previous offence of holding drugs for sale or supply in November 2016. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 4, 2017 Incident
- November 2016 Incident
- February 2018 Incident
- April 2016 Other
- 2021-03-23 Publication
Why: Her barrister Luigi Rea BL said she lodged the appeal because she wants to stay in Ireland but a solicitor had been unable to contact her and he couldn't explain her failure to appear. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: unlawful possession for sale or supply of a controlled substance at her home, was on bail at the time awaiting sentence for a previous offence of holding drugs for sale or supply in November 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Bianca Francisco (24) did not appear at the Court of Appeal this morning, where she was due to appeal her sentence. He said it was in her best interests to return to the support of her family and suspended a 12-month prison sentence on condition that Francisco leave Ireland within three months.
Places mentioned
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