Woman gave boyfriend pills in Portlaoise Courthouse

A woman admitted giving her boyfriend tablets in a tobacco pouch at Portlaoise Courthouse.

Stacey Kelly, 33, with an address at 45 The Birches, Kilnacourt, Portarlington admitted supplying benzodiazepine tablets at Portlaoise Courthouse on February 16, 2023. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the offence occurred while a prisoner was being escorted from a cell at 10.45am. He said the woman passed a pouch of tobacco which contained the tablets. 

“She was arrested and processed and she made full admissions,” he said. 

“She was supplying them to her boyfriend who was in custody at the time,” Sgt Kirby explained. He estimated the value of the tablets to be in the region of €200. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said the woman was given a deferred three month sentence in December in relation to a theft in 2021. The woman had admitted stealing six cans of pre mix cocktails valued at €18 from Spar Service Station on September 3, 2021. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client has had a difficult life. She said both her parents died from overdoses and she lost her brother to suicide.

“We did get a chance and we blew that,” she said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick handed in a report from the Peter McVerry Trust and asked the judge to hear evidence from the defendant’s case manager at the Peter McVerry Trust. 

Siobhan Martin of the Peter McVerry Trust said the defendant was “very proactive” in engaging with Merchants Quay and other services. 

“She is very sorry for what has happened,” Ms  Martin said. 

When asked, Sgt Kirby said the woman has 92 previous convictions. 

“She is in a much better place than she was,” said Sgt Kirby. 

 Judge Andrew Cody read the report from the Peter McVerry Trust during his lunch.

He returned to the case afterwards and said he would “somewhat reluctantly” suspend the three month sentence for two years. He imposed a further 12 month suspended sentence for supplying drugs in the court. He said he takes very seriously the supply of any contraband into prison. 

“If she doesn’t get the picture it is 15 months,” Judge Cody warned the defendant.