Almost €2,000 is forfeited to State

DRIGHEDA court has ruled that almost €2,000 which was found on a local woman following her arrest be forfeited to the State.

Before Judge Coughlan on Friday was a police property application by Superintendent

Andy Watters in respect of €1,980 cash.

Jill Devine (45), Marian

Park, Drogheda, opposed the application and sought to have the money returned to her.

Gda Ursula Clarke gave evidence she arrested Jill Devine at 5.15pm on 26 June, 2016, and the money was found on her during a search in addition to seven sleeves of Xanax, other tablets, packaging for controlled medication and a tick list.

Devine was charged and subsequently received a 12 months suspended sentence.

The garda added she retained the money on the belief it was the proceeds of crime.

Jill Devine told the court that three or four days before her arrest her house was broken into and she was assaulted with a hammer by three masked men.

All the windows and a door were smashed and her son was also assaulted.

She had to have an operation on her head and her doctor proscribed Xanax for anxiety and depression.

Mrs Devine said the money is question was given to her by her ex-husband Seán Devine.

He flew home from Edinburgh and gave her the money to replace the windows and doors, as well as five weeks’ maintenance, which he pays her in lump sums when he is home.

She couldn’t leave the money at home.

‘ The seven packets of Xanax were mine. They are €10 a packet. It would be difficult to make €1,900 from that drug.

‘I was waiting for someone to come to fix up the house. That’s why I had the cash on me.’

She added it was not true she was supplying Xanax.