Woman avoids jail for allowing home to be used to store drugs

By Eimear Dodd

A woman who allowed her home to be used to store a large amount of cannabis has been handed a fully suspended prison sentence.

Sinead Byrne (46) pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Orchard Way, Greenwood Walk, Donaghmede, on December 19, 2021.

She further pleaded to one count of knowingly permitting the same property to be used for the sale, supply or distribution of a controlled drug and possession of cocaine on the same date.

Imposing sentence today, Judge Orla Crowe said a “considerable amount of cannabis” was found in the property.

Byrne of Station Way,  Clongriffin, Co. Dublin, had relapsed into addiction before this offending occurred, and the judge noted if she hadn’t, then she “may well not have found herself in the position she is in today”.

The judge said the aggravating factors include that Byrne allowed her home to be used to store drugs, which “facilitated” this trade.

She noted that a probation report places Byrne at moderate risk of re-offending in the next 12 months due to a number of risk factors.

She said she took into account the mitigation, including Byrne’s guilty plea, her efforts to deal with her addiction and her personal circumstances.

Judge Crowe imposed a three-year prison sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions, including that Byrne place herself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that gardai searched the property on December 19, 2021.

They recovered a container with 1.5kg of cannabis worth €29,160  from an ensuite and black bin bags from the attic, which contained 10kg of cannabis valued at €169,166.

A metal safe was also found, which contained €248 of cocaine.

Gardai also found a digital weighing scale and €1,200 cash.

Byrne was not present during the search.

Gardai were told she was abroad but expected home that day.

The court heard Byrne contacted gardai the same day and made arrangements to meet them.

She was later arrested by appointment and interviewed four times.

She admitted knowing about the cannabis in the ensuite and the count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply related to these drugs, the court heard.

Byrne denied any knowledge of the cannabis in the attic.

She said she didn’t know who owned these and told gardai she was in fear for her safety.

She said she was put under pressure and had a drug debt due to her use of cocaine and cannabis.

She said the money found was to pay her rent.

The court heard that this was later returned to her.

Byrne has six previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.

The investigating garda agreed with the defence counsel that his client made some admissions during the interview, and her early guilty plea was of assistance to the prosecution.

Defence counsel outlined his client’s personal circumstances, including that she is a single mother.

He said her role was to store the drugs, and she was not making a profit.

A number of documents and references were handed into the court including urine analysis.

Counsel said Byrne moved to America as a child, returning in 2003.

She had a cocaine addiction as a teenager but got clean before suffering a relapse.

She is now addressing her addiction issues.

Byrne has a work history in the beauty industry.

Defence counsel suggested to the court that his client is unlikely to re-offend in future.

He asked the court to consider non-custodial options for sentencing.