Drug dealer 'seems to believe she is immune from going to jail'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A judge has told a woman caught with more than €40,000 of cannabis that she seems to believe she is “immune” from going to jail.
Catherine Ryan, aged 30, of Cogaula, Westport pleaded guilty at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Gda Ciaran Naughton told the court that on May 21, 2021, Gardaí received confidential information that drugs were in Ryan’s then address at Kilsallagh, Louisburgh.
The accused and a male were in the house when Gardaí arrived to search the property while another woman arrived as the search was being carried out.
Cannabis in plastic bags was found in a number of locations in the house. The total value of drugs discovered was an estimated €41,668. A male co-accused was dealt with in the District Court while a female co-accused who had 5.86gm of cannabis on her person left the jurisdiction.
Ryan has three drug convictions, including one for sale and supply. She was initially uncooperative with Gardaí but later made admissions.
The mother-of-two was told to sell her BMW to pay for drug testing and the case was adjourned until last week.
Ryan was late for her hearing and told the court that despite being employed she could not afford to pay the €650 required for hair follicle testing.
The court also heard she suffered a relapse and took drugs in January. Ryan has a cocaine and cannabis addiction.
“I don’t believe she relapsed. I don’t think she ever went off drugs in the first place,” said Judge Eoin Garavan.
The court heard Ryan lives in a mobile home at the rear of her parents' property, with her two children and her partner.
Barrister Mary Durcan, representing Ryan, said the root cause of her offending was her drug use and addiction. Her car is up for sale and she is willing to enter rehab.
Judge Garavan said he accepts there is “no magic wand” when it comes to overcoming drug addiction.
“But the difficulty is she lies,” he added.
The judge said the defendant seems to think she is “immune” from going to jail.
“Her attitude is, ‘I’m immune, that doesn’t happen to someone like me.’
“This lady is facing 10 years in prison,” Judge Garavan warned.
He said he would give Ryan one last chance to prove herself to the court, including hair follicle testing.
“Unless every box is ticked it’s a custodial sentence.”
The case was adjourned until March 7.
