'Vulnerable' woman who was delivering phone-ordered drugs to West Cork customers avoids jail

Woman admitted at interview that she travelled to West Cork to sell drugs she picked up in Cork city

The woman had a backpack which contained cannabis worth €9,000.

An articulate, intelligent, but vulnerable woman was caught openly dealing cannabis in West Cork and now she has been given a three-year suspended sentence.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed the sentence on 45-year-old Linda Burke, of no fixed address, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda David Barrett said that on September 12, 2022, the accused was observed at a bus stop in Bandon and it was believed that she was involved in the sale or supply of drugs in West Cork.

As a result of her suspicious behaviour, she was arrested and handed over her backpack which contained cannabis worth €9,000.

She admitted at interview that she travelled to West Cork to sell drugs she picked up in Cork city. She said that after selling in Bandon, she planned to take the drugs to other parts of West Cork to do the same.

She said that in the previous five weeks she had made €1,000 selling drugs.

Before setting off to West Cork she packaged the drugs and wrote the names of who the drugs were for on the bags.

Defence barrister Peter O’Flynn said Ms Burke has mental health and addiction issues. She has seen her probation officer and attended for a period at Coolmine treatment centre, Mr O’Flynn said, adding, “She has done all she can since she was last before the court.” 

Judge Helen Boyle said: “Certainly, it is a serious offence. But she is a woman with serious mental health issues and was arrested in Bandon in possession of €9,000 worth of cannabis for distribution — delivering drugs to people in west Cork who ordered it over the phone.

“You had been seen by gardaí engaging in this conduct. You were a delivery person for drugs for payment — albeit that you were a person with an addiction. Unusually, you have no previous convictions at all.

“You have had a long engagement with the psychiatric services — effectively involved with them for some 20 years with a history of polysubstance misuse and self-harm.”