Woman was selling drugs out of West Mayo mobile home
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A woman who was found in possession of drugs valued at over €10,000 owed money to dealers higher up the chain, a court has heard.
Jennifer Keegan, aged 36, formerly with an address at the Croagh Patrick Camping and Caravan Park, Lecanvey, but now residing in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply.
On May 14, 2021, Gardaí received information that drugs were being dealt from Keegan’s mobile home at the caravan park. Keegan answered the door to officers and voluntarily showed them where the drugs were.
Cannabis valued at €10,112 was found and 14 ecstasy tablets worth €140 were also recovered. Gardaí also seized a weighing scales and €1,650 in cash.
The court heard Keegan had been dealing to friends for about six months before she was apprehended. She owed drug dealers €7,000.
Keegan has one previous conviction.
Barrister Diarmuid Connolly said his client had been supplying drugs to a small community of her friends and was at the "lowest rung of the ladder".
Det Sgt Ciaran Naughton agreed that she was not going to make any significant financial gain from the operation.
Mr Connolly said the defendant “presents as an airy-fairy individual” and is something of a “dreamer”. Keegan failed to appear for her original sentencing hearing on the previous day because she missed the train.
Judge Eoin Garavan said it was clear the existence of the drug debt led to her offending.
He imposed a one-year suspended jail term.
