Jail addiction counsellor is charged with possession of €2k drugs & supply intent
Cocaine, cannabis, pills and €7.4k found in car & house, court told
Money scattered, rolled up and some contained in cling film GDA KYLIE BYRNE COURT YESTERDAY
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A PRISON addiction counsellor was granted bail yesterday after being charged over a drug and proceeds of crime seizure.
Dublin District Court heard motherof-two Kate O’mahony, 35, had been on her way to a prison when gardai stopped her car and recovered cocaine.
It was alleged cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazepines and alprazolam tablets and €7,400 cash were recovered in a follow-up search at her home on Wednesday.
Ms O’mahony of the Clovers, Beechpark Avenue, Castleknock, Dublin, was charged with unlawful possession of the drugs, possessing them for sale or supply and a money laundering charge for having proceeds of crime. She has yet to enter a plea.
Gda Kylie Byrne told Judge Bryan Smyth yesterday the accused “made no reply” when charged. Gda Byrne objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the case and concerns the accused would flee.
The court heard Ms O’mahony worked as an addiction counsellor at Merchant Quay Ireland, an outreach and support service, and also in Mountjoy Prison.
The contested bail hearing was told she was in the vicinity of the prison when her car was stopped and drugs were recovered. Judge Smyth heard that the total value of the drugs recovered was around €2,000. Cross-examined by defence solic- itor Donal Quigley, the agreed the accused lived all her life in the Dublin 15 area, had children, and was in her current home for the past three years.
The solicitor suggested the alleged seizure was mainly tablets but the garda pointed out that it also included cannabis and cocaine, allegedly worth €1,000.
The officer said the cash was “scattered” around her home, including her bedroom, and money was “rolled up and some contained in cling film”.
The solicitor put it to the garda his client let out rooms but the officer answered that the accused had not told gardai. Mr Quigley also added that she worked full-time in Merchant’s Quay.
The garda agreed she had never been in trouble before and had surrendered her passport. Pleading for bail, the solicitor argued that his client had “significant” ties to the State, the amount of drugs was low, and the matter could be dealt with at the District Court level.
Judge Smyth held she should be granted bail in her bond of €1,000 with conditions. He ordered Ms O’mahony, who did not address the court, to sign on three times a week at her local Garda station, provide gardai with a phone number, be contactable at all times and not to apply for a duplicate passport.
Gardai need to analyse the substances and seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Smyth adjourned the case until July.
Bond was among conditions for Ms O’mahony’s bail release