A drug addict caught moving a large suitcase of mixing agents for street drugs from her mother’s home has received a fully suspended prison sentence.
Hazel Byrne (31) moved the paracetamol and caffeine powder mix from her mother’s home in Dublin when she heard that gardaí were about to raid the house in May 2018.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that her mother had become involved in drug dealing in order to pay off her daughter’s drug debt.
In July 2019, Catherine Byrne (56) of Cloverhill rd., Ballyfermot, Dublin, received a five year suspended sentence for holding over €190,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and mixing agents at her home on May 29, 2018.
Today Hazel Byrne of Cherry Orchard Green, Ballyfermot pleaded guilty to possession of articles in connection with drug trafficking at Manor rd., Palmerstown on May 29, 2018.
Garda John Morrisey told Diarmaid Collins BL, prosecuting, that the paracetamol and caffeine powder was used as a “bulking agent” to cut heroin and cocaine.
Catherine Byrne’s sentence hearing in July 2019 heard that her daughter was involved with “serious individuals” and Catherine Byrne got involved to protect her.
Judge Martin Nolan said that Catherine Byrne “found herself in a desperate situation and took desperate measures to protect her daughter”.
The court heard that gardaí had stopped a car driven by Catherine Byrne and found a large box with a shotgun in it.
Judge Nolan said he accepted that Byrne believed the box contained drugs rather than a firearm.
Keith Spencer BL, defending Hazel Byrne, said his client was a drug user who was dependent on cocaine.
Judge Melanie Greally said that it would be unjust to imprison Hazel Byrne after her mother had received a suspended sentence for her role.
She said the defendant was a vulnerable woman with a history of addiction.
She said Byrne had no previous convictions for drug offending and has engaged with the Probation Service since this offence.
A Probation Service assessment placed her at a moderate risk of reoffending due to her addiction and her “association with criminal associates”.
She suspended a two year prison term on condition Byrne engage with Probation Services for another year, including drug screening and therapeutic work.