Cork woman admits bringing €8k worth of heroin from Dublin to clear another person's debt

The mother of three has no similar previous convictions and is in full-time employment

Judge Boyle said: 'The difficulty here is bringing heroin in to Cork City. It is a disaster for Cork City, it is a disaster for addicts.' File picture

A 36-year-old Blarney woman drove to Dublin to buy €8,000 worth of heroin for the Cork drugs market and as she faced sentencing she said she carried out this crime in an attempt to clear another person’s drug debt.

Amy Forrest of Causeway House, Station Road, Blarney, County Cork, admitted possession of diamorphine for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others at Redforge Road, Blackpool, Cork, on August 24, 2023.

She also pleaded guilty to a charge stating that she “did possess articles, namely a mixing agent consisting of a paracetamol and caffeine mixture in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that the article was in your possession for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence.” 

Detective Garda Ruairí McGovern said Detective Garda Fergal Long obtained information that Amy Forrest was travelling to Dublin to purchase heroin to bring back to Cork. A garda drugs operation was put in place to intercept her Kia car on return.

She removed two packages of diamorphine (heroin) from her top and this was found to have a street value of €8,000. Elsewhere in the car three packages of mixing agent – paracetamol and caffeine – were found. These ingredients are used to bulk up the drug product.

Det. Garda McGovern said that when interviewed, Amy Forrest showed a familiarity with various street drug terminology.

In respect of her own personal phone she refused to give gardaí her PIN number. Defence barrister John Devlin said this refusal arose out of her fear of other parties.

“She denies directly selling it but admits transporting it when she was under a certain amount of duress because of the debt of (another person),” Det. Garda McGovern said.

Mr Devlin said she had no similar previous convictions and that the mother of three was in full-time employment. “She worked as a hairdresser and then did a medical secretarial course and obtained her present employment through that course and her employer speaks well of her as diligent and hardworking,” Mr Devlin said.

He said she was trying to clear a drugs debt for another person and when she did not have the money to do so she was asked to go to Dublin and bring these drugs back and to gather €2,500 to pay also.

The probation officer described her as a vulnerable woman with a low risk of re-offending. “She is in a position to lead a pro-social life in the community. She has demonstrated victim awareness. She did not benefit financially from the transactions,” Mr Devlin said.

Judge Boyle said: “The difficulty here is bringing heroin in to Cork City. It is a disaster for Cork City, it is a disaster for addicts, and to knowingly do it – whatever the reason – I have to take it seriously.

“I will put it in for a date in the last week of the sessions and consider then what to do. I will adjourn it until May 20 and remand her on bail until then.”