Jail for “vulnerable” woman caught with €300,000 of cannabis at Dublin Airport

By Claire Henry

A young woman who was caught with just under €300k worth of cannabis herb at Dublin Airport has been described as a “vulnerable person who was manipulated and used by others”.

 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Katie Farrell (27) of The Orchard, Ardee, Co Louth, came forward on a signed plea of having drugs for sale or supply at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, on January 16, 2024. She has no previous convictions.

 Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Elva Duffy said Farrell came forward on signed pleas, was fully cooperative and went into custody voluntarily. She also noted her personal circumstances and considered these as mitigating factors.

 Judge Duffy said, taking the mitigating factors into account, “I feel I can depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of ten years”.

 The judge outlined that Farell “may be at the lowest rung, but she is still a cog in the wheel”.

Judge Duffy sentenced Farell to four years in prison but suspended the final twelve months for two years. She was also placed under the supervision of the probation services for twelve months upon release. She backed dated the sentence to when Farrell went into custody on this matter.

 Detective Garda Tanya Shinkins told John Quirke, BL, prosecuting, that Farrell was stopped after her luggage was screened. She had travelled alone from Alicante in Spain. Cannabis herb weighing 14.9 kg was found in her luggage with a street value of €299,626. She was arrested and made no admissions during interview.

 Det Gda Shinkins agreed with Michael O’Higgins, SC, defending, that his client was acting as a courier and that the drugs belonged to a third party.

 The detective agreed with counsel that Farrell was under the instruction of someone close to her. She was described as a people-pleaser and was on the lowest rung in regard to this offence.

 Mr O’Higgins said that when this case was before the District Court, his client did not take up her bail and opted to go into custody. He said that she indicated very early that she would be coming forward on a signed plea.

 Counsel said there is evidence in the reports before the court that outlines his client as someone who has “vulnerabilities” and is “easily led”. She has also had issues with drug addiction in the past.

 Mr O’Higgins said that during her school years, Farrell struggled and just wanted “to fit in” and “gravitated to people who did not have her best interests in mind”. He said she suffered from low self-esteem.

 He asked the court to take into account his client’s high level of cooperation and feelings of remorse, her sense that she has let down her mother and child and that she is engaging well during her time in custody.

He concluded by saying that Farrell was a “vulnerable person who was manipulated and used by others.” He asked the court to consider a sentence that was as minimal as possible and to consider suspending a portion of it.