Two people in East Cork told to contribute to court poor box over illegal possession of diazepam

One of the defendants was a nurse who worked shifts who had used the tablets to help her sleep when she was working nights

The woman admitted that two of the diazepam were hers while the man admitted to having 10 tablets. File picture

A man and a woman have appeared in court in Youghal, East Cork charged with the illegal possession of diazepam tablets, a controlled drug used to treat anxiety that is only available on prescription in Ireland.

Court presenter, Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan, told Youghal District Court that a search was carried out at an address in Parklands, Youghal on January 19, 2024, where a number of diazepam tablets were discovered.

Ana Ivan, aged 44 of Parklands, Youghal, admitted that two of the tablets were hers and that she did not have a prescription for them. Andrei Deaconescu, aged 26 of the same address admitted that a further 10 tablets that were discovered during the same search were his. 

The court was told that both Ivan and Deaconescu had no previous convictions. Barrister Carmel Goggin, who represented both of the accused, said each was pleading guilty to possession of controlled drugs contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977. 

She told the court that Ivan was a nurse who worked shifts who had used the tablets to help her sleep when she was working nights. She said Ivan did not realise she needed a prescription and the tablets were out of date.

The court heard that Deaconescu had undergone surgery in Romania in 2022 and had brought the tablets, which were prescribed, to Ireland with him. Ms Goggin said he was fully co-operative and was unaware he needed a prescription in Ireland.

Judge John King gave both Ivan and Deaconescu the benefit of the Probation Act on condition that they each made a contribution of €200 to the court poor box.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme