Portlaoise Court: Couple used as a ‘gilly’ in drug case says solicitor
Portlaoise Court House
A PORTARLINGTON woman pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine for her own use and to possessing the drugs for sale or supply when she appeared before Judge Susan Fay at Portlaoise District Court last week.
Before the court was 35-year-old Tanya Bracken, 3 Ballymorris Manor, Portarlington.
Her co-accused Conor Robinson (33) from the same address also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for his own use and for sale or supply from the same address on 22 December 2023.
The court heard that drugs to the value of €3,000 were found in the bathroom of the couple’s address and that there was a list of contacts on their phones which indicated sale or supply of drugs.
Judge Fay was told that the couple had engaged in the illegal activity because Mr Robinson had accrued a debt of €8,500.
The couple’s solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said: “There appears to be a man working behind the scenes pressuring them to use their house and using them as a gilly. They were in debt due to outside forces.” Remanding both defendants on continuing bail until 10 March, Judge Fay asked that, in the meantime, probation reports be drawn up on Ms Bracken and Mr Robinson.
