Wicklow woman given fully suspended sentence over €20,000 cannabis stash
The Wicklow PeopleA woman who admitted storing €20,000 worth of cannabis at her home has been given a fully suspended sentence after the court heard she had engaged with drug rehabilitation services and stayed out of trouble for two decades.
Lavinia Quinn (43), with an address at Drumkay, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing after she pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, namely possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply.
The court heard that the quantity involved would ordinarily warrant a Section 15A charge, but the State proceeded on a standard Section 15 count.
Detective Garda David Murphy testified that gardaí executed a search warrant in 2023 at Ms Quinn’s residence, where they uncovered cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000.
The court was told that she made full admissions while in custody. Eoghan Gallagher BL, counsel for Ms Quinn, told the court that she had been storing the drugs in return for some for her own personal use.
A probation report was available on her behalf. The report stated that the defendant was at a high risk of reoffending due to her lack of a support system. Counsel for the defence argued that a lack of friends could not be considered a valid reason for her to reoffend.
Ms Quinn has nine previous convictions for public order and assault. It was noted that she had not come to the attention of gardaí since her last conviction in 2004.
In his plea for mitigation, Mr Gallagher stated that she has since become a grandmother for a second time and has engaged with drug rehabilitation services. Clean urine samples were obtained and handed into court. Detective Garda Murphy agreed with counsel that the accused had “no trappings of wealth”.
Mr Gallagher asked the court to give his client a chance and to suspend the sentence in its entirety.
Judge Patrick Quinn complied with the defence request and imposed a sentence of two years’ imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition that she comply with the probation service.
The accused engage with Merchants Quay, and enter a bond of €200 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.