Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentence for mum who was "coerced" into storing cannabis worth €84k in her home

Date
2015-10-21
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Carol Murray, a 29-year-old single mother from Baldoyle, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 4.1kg of cannabis herb worth just under €84,000. The drugs were found at her former Merchant Court premises in Baldoyle on October 4, 2014. Gardaí discovered the cannabis packages inside and on top of a pink suitcase after obtaining a search warrant, following the arrest of her co-accused near Newlands Cross. Murray has no previous convictions. Her defense counsel, Caroline Biggs SC, argued that Murray was "coerced" and "naive," having been influenced by her male friend, who was jailed for three years for his role in the offence. The co-accused admitted in interview that he had pressured Murray to store the drugs due to a gambling debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Murray was at the lowest possible level of involvement and that her co-accused was the "primary mover." However, the judge noted the seriousness of the crime. Taking into account that Murray is a hard-working mother and unlikely to reoffend, Judge Nolan suspended a three-year sentence for three years. The matter was finalized with this suspended sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for mum who was "coerced" into storing cannabis worth €84k in her home. Charges or matters: possessing 4.1kg of cannabis herb worth just under €84,000 at her former Merchant Court premises in Baldoyle on October 4, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Carol Murray

Defendant

Charges: possessing 4.1kg of cannabis herb worth just under €84,000 at her former Merchant Court premises in Baldoyle on October 4, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Gda McGeogh agreed with Ms Biggs that her client was "naive" and had been under the influence of her co-accused, who was jailed for three years for his role in the offence. He suspended the three year sentence for three years.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report

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