Laois woman hid cocaine underneath bedframe
Portlaoise Courthouse
WHEN gardaí searched underneath a steel bedframe, they found a magnetic cylinder stuck to it that contained cocaine.
Garda Sgt JJ Kirby told Portlaoise District Court last week that during a search of a house by the local drugs unit, headed by Garda Det Joe Fahy, on 10 April last year, they came across the magnetic cylinder. When it was opened, 75 deals of cocaine were found in it, along with a small quantity of cannabis.
Arising from the incident Andrea O’Neill (45), Bianconi Way, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply and to possessing cannabis for her own use at her address on 10 April last year.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that a family member of Ms O’Neill’s had run up a debt and that, under threat, her client had been forced to hold the drugs in the house as a means of paying back the debt.
Judge Susan Fay remanded Ms O’Neill on continuing bail to the 21 September sitting of the court and in the meantime instructed her to take part the Athy Alternative Awareness Programme, engage with the probation services and undergo an assessment to determine her suitability to take part in community service.
