Woman took drugs into Portlaoise Prison

A woman admitted to bringing drugs valued at €850 into Portlaoise Prison. 

Sarah Jane Greene (30) of 1 St Louise’s Park, Temple Hill, Blackrock, Dublin admitted possessing and bringing packages containing cannabis and benzodiazepine into Portlaoise Prison on July 28, 2023. 

Garda Sergeant Colin O’Leary said the accused was a visitor at the prison and was caught handing over the packages at 3.15pm on the date in question. He said there were two packages and one contained €250 of cannabis while the second contained €600 of benzodiazepine. He said the woman had four previous convictions but none were drug related. 

Solicitor Michael Byrne said his client “was put under pressure by her ex boyfriend at the time” to bring the drugs in. He said the man was “under huge pressure” due to a debt. 

He said his client suffers from anxiety and depression and was “very remorseful” over the offending. He said she hadn’t come to any negative attention since the incident. 

Judge Susan Fay ordered a probation report and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on July 14.