Eight years for cocaine holder

A Lucan mother who was paid €400 a week to hold €191,535 worth of cocaine has been given an eight-year sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Karen O'Connor (aged 27) of Hillcrest Lawns, Lucan, told gardaí her cocaine dealer informed her someone would be coming to see her, days after she mentioned her outstanding bills. Two men later arrived, dropped the haul off and told her she would be paid to hold them.

O'Connor pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at her home on September 26, 2005. She had two previous convictions for theft.

Garda Paul Moody agreed with defence counsel Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC (with Ms Ciara Bradshaw BL) that O’Connor was a young mother of two who had difficulty paying her utility bill and was "extremely vulnerable to exploitation".

Judge Hogan said he was satisfied that O'Connor immediately cooperated with the gardaí and that she took responsibility for the drugs when there were other people living in the house.

He accepted she was vulnerable at the time which, he said, was exacerbated by the fact that she had debts and this had led her being put into this position.

He suspended the last two years of the sentence on condition that she kept the peace and be of good behaviour for five years on her release from prison.