Woman avoids jail after being caught with over €200,000 worth of drugs

By Fiona Ferguson

A Dublin woman caught with more than €228,000 worth of drugs, after gardaí discovered a false wall in the boot of a car she was driving, has avoided jail.

Sarah Cala (47) , of Casement Grove, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of benzocaine intended for use in relation to drugs offences at her home on April 17, 2023.

She also pleaded guilty to possession within the State of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for sale of supply on the same date. The offence comes with presumptive minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment which a judge can depart from in exceptional circumstances.

She has two previous convictions.

At an earlier sentence hearing the court heard gardai stopped and searched Cala’s car after she was observed driving erratically. A false wall was discovered in the boot of the car and drugs to the value of €76,934 were recovered.  A follow up search of Cala’s home and shed revealed a further drugs haul valued at €151,000, as well as 12 kilograms of benzocaine.

Cala took responsibility for the drugs and entered an early guilty plea in the case.

Passing sentence, Judge Martina Baxter said it was a “heinous offence” and the sentencing regime reflects the disdain and concern for the effect the sale and supply of drugs has on individuals, families and society. She referenced the chaos and devastation caused by drugs.

She noted the contents of the psychological report presented Cala as extremely vulnerable.

She took into account that Cala was born into abject poverty and had been exposed to tragedy and trauma all her life. She noted her physical and mental health challenges.

The court heard she has a rare autoimmune disorder and a cleft palate which has deteriorated and needs reconstructive surgery. She also suffers from PTSD.

She accepted Cala was deeply remorseful and noted the family support in court. She commented to those in court that Cala needed to be supported in her recovery also.

She said it would be unjust in the circumstances not to depart from the presumptive minimum sentence, taking into account her guilty plea and co-operation in relation to her own role.

She identified her role as mid-level, assisting more serious offenders and noted the false wall in the car required an element of sophistication and planning. She set a headline sentence of six and a half years.

She noted Cala still has to address her cannabis use and address her insight into her offending, but said she was making a genuine effort to address her issues in the difficult circumstances of her life

She said she did not feel Cala and society would be best served by a custodial sentence at this point and it would have a detrimental effect on her rehabilitation.

She took into account mitigating and personal circumstances and imposed a six years sentence which she suspended in its entirety for six years

The conditions include 18 months probation supervision, refraining from the use of illicit substances and attending psychotherapy and counselling, as well as engaging with the probation service to develop a prosocial daily routine.