Gardaí found a gravy tub with over €300 worth of drugs in a Tipperary woman’s home

Thurles District Court has been told a woman found with over €300 worth of drugs in her home is a very “genuine person” who has worked hard to get clean.

Louise O’Brien (39) of 18 Glenree, Holycross, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug for personal use, contrary to Section Three of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.

Garda Robert O’Donovan told the court that on March 30, 2021, he executed a search warrant on the defendant’s home.

He said he obtained the warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act, with information he collected from his enquiries. In the defendant’s kitchen, gardaí found a Bisto Gravy container with €270 worth of cannabis and €94 worth of amphetamine inside and arrested the defendant.

The court heard the defendant had 12 previous convictions, all under the Misuse of Drugs Act, for both possession and sale and supply.

However, the defendant had none at the time of the offence.

The barrister acting for the defendant told the court that his client “presents as a totally different lady today”.

He said at the time of the offence, Ms O’Brien was going through some very serious personal matters, with both her parents and a sibling ill.

This, he said, led her to abuse drugs, but she has since worked very hard to get clean. She is now in a relationship and gained full-time employment.

She had been under a supervision period through the probation service but that concluded early as she was doing so well.

“She has managed to get clean and stay clean, and she is a functioning member of society.

“She is a very genuine person, and I believe her life will continue on a positive track,” said the barrister.

However, he said that his client is concerned about the impact of a conviction and the publicity that comes with that on her employment.

She wrote a letter detailing her progress, which Judge Elizabeth MacGrath read but not aloud in court. Judge MacGrath said she did not think the current charge would impact her employment as she had more serious convictions on her record.

Ms O’Brien told the court that she was concerned about being “named and shamed” in the local paper after she had worked very hard to improve her life.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she did not think another conviction would impact the defendant’s employment.

However, she was prepared, if Ms O’Brien agreed, to refer her to the Restorative Justice Programme.

She put the matter back to July and said that if Ms O’Brien complies, she will strike out the charge.