COURT: Nenagh woman told gardaí she was holding drugs for someone else

A woman who claimed she was holding drugs for someone else has been given a two-month prison sentence at Nenagh District Court.

Rebecca Harty (25) OF 15 Silvermews, Nenagh pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to sell or supply contrary to Sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 on December 19, 2022, and December 21, 2022, both at Thurles Garda Station. 

Sgt Tom Hanrahan of Thurles Garda Station told the court that on December 19, 2022, gardaí responded to a call of two people loitering at Thurles Shopping Centre. 

When they responded, Ms Harty was one of the individuals, and on searching her, they found tablets. 

The defendant told gardai they were not hers and she was holding them for someone else.

Gardai arrested Ms Harty and charged her with offences under Sections 3 and 15 of the act. 

Sgt Hanrahan told the court that on the date of the second incident, gardaí were again responding to a report of a man and a woman loitering at Thurles Shopping Centre. 

This time, on searching the defendant, gardaí found €30 worth of heroin. Again, the defendant claimed she was holding the drugs for someone else.

The court heard Ms Harty has 32 previous convictions and is currently serving a five-year sentence for assault causing harm from Nenagh Circuit Court.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Elizabeth McKeever told the court her client has addiction issues but no history of drug dealing. 

She said her client has a “very tragic past” having lost three of her four children, and her fourth child is in care. 

She asked the court to take the charges into consideration as her client is currently serving a lengthy sentence.

Judge Marie Keane convicted the defendant on one count of possession and took the other two charges into consideration.

Judge Keane imposed a two-month prison sentence to run concurrent to the one the defendant currently serves.