Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman with chronic pain condition avoids jail for holding cannabis

Date
2023-05-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Susan Royal, 49, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis at her home for sale or supply on 30 April 2021. She had agreed with an unknown person to hold over €14,000 worth of cannabis in exchange for receiving some for her own use to manage severe pain from fibromyalgia. Gardaí seized 730 g of the drug, along with scales and bags, after a search warrant was executed on the day of the offence. Royal, a mother of two with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and had previously attended a Garda station voluntarily. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended in full, after noting her extensive medical history and the fact that she had not ceased cannabis use entirely. The court described the case as "unusual.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman with chronic pain condition avoids jail for holding cannabis. Charges or matters: possessing the cannabis at her home for sale or supply on April 30, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 30, 2021 Incident
October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
2023-05-17 Publication

Why: Gda Dooley agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that Royal took full responsibility for possessing the cannabis at the scene and explained that she used the drug to manage her condition. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Unnamed woman

Defendant

Charges: possessing the cannabis at her home for sale or supply on April 30, 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) By Jessica Magee A Dublin woman who agreed to hold cannabis in return for use of the drug to treat the severe pain caused by her fibromyalgia has avoided jail with a suspended sentence. At a hearing today, Judge Orla Crowe handed down an 18-month sentence but suspended it in full, describing it as "an unusual case".