Katy French friends to be sentenced for drug offence

Two friends of the late model Katy French will be sentenced in two weeks' time for a drug offence committed on the weekend the socialite collapsed at their home.

Former couple Kieron Ducie and Ann Corcoran appeared before Trim Circuit Court, Co Meath, where they previously pleaded guilty to procuring another man - Russell Memery – to possess cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply to another at an unknown location between 6pm on Saturday December 1 2007 and 10am the following day.

Ms French, 24, died in hospital four days after she fell ill at the former couple’s then home in Lambertstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath.

A post-mortem examination revealed she suffered brain damage and traces of cocaine were found in her system.

Judge Michael O’Shea was told the case was ready to proceed to sentence, which he set for Tuesday February 19.

Ducie (aged 43) still lives in the property, while his 32-year-old ex-girlfriend lives on Tolka Road in Clonliffe, north Dublin.

The model had celebrated her 24th birthday days before she collapsed.

Her parents John and Janet and sister Jill maintained a bedside vigil for four days as the model lay critically ill in on a life-support machine at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.

In May 2010, Memery, who had been living at Yellow Clay Manor in Navan, Co Meath, was given a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence after admitting to conspiring with others to possess cocaine for sale or supply on the weekend Ms French took ill.

The court had heard he had been paid €200 for the drugs.