Appeal court reduces mothers’ drug possession sentences

The Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) has significantly reduced the prison sentences imposed on two young Cork mothers who collected cannabis resin valued at €140,000 on a day trip to Dublin.

Last December Nicola Duggan, aged 27, Dublin Street, Blackpool; Vivienne O’Donovan, aged 27, Farranferris Green, Farranree; and another woman were jailed for various terms by Judge Frank O’Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply on March 11, 2005, of 20kg of cannabis resin with a market value of €140,000.

Yesterday the CCA decided to suspend half of Duggan’s five-year sentence; and the final two-and-a-half years of O’Donovan’s four-year prison sentence was also suspended.