Woman facing 64 drugs charges ‘not in good place’, Cork court told

A WOMAN facing 64 drugs charges, including having substances for the purposes of sale or supply, is experiencing “immense distress” as she awaits a book of evidence being served on her, a court has heard.

Helen Stone, aged 57, and who lives at Kilnacnappogue, Kealkill, Bantry, first came before the court last February, but at Bantry District Court last week Judge James McNulty was told that the task of compiling a single book of evidence in relation to the charges means it will be January before it can be served on her.

The charges date back to November 2018, and at the first court appearance in February Judge McNulty noted that the charges related to offences alleged to have taken place in three locations — Dublin, Cork City, and Bantry — and related to a business trading under the name of The Funky Skunk, allegedly involving cannabis and synthetic substances.

More recently, five more charges were brought against Ms Stone, including an allegation that on May 5 last year at Caherogullane, Scart in Bantry, she had drugs, valued in excess of €13,000, for sale or supply.

At the first court hearing, Judge McNulty heard that gardaí seized €645,000 worth of drugs as part of an investigation which also involved the Cork West Divisional Drugs Unit, officers at Store Street Garda Station in Dublin, and with the assistance of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Health.

Ms Stone appeared again before Bantry District Court on Thursday, when Garda Superintendent Joseph Moore said that a single book of evidence was still being prepared and that the State was seeking a further adjournment to January next.

“The idea was to bring all charges together in one book [of evidence],” said Supt Moore. “This is going to take a long time and a lot of work.”

Supt Moore said State solicitor Jerry Healy had suggested at one point that two books of evidence could be prepared, but that the defence in the case was seeking a single book of evidence.

Colette McCarthy, solicitor for Ms Stone, said her issue was that her client was “very distressed”.

“We are concerned regarding mental health issues,” she told the judge. “Her father died since the last court date, she was not able to go to England to spend any time with him.

“She is not in a good place.”

Ms McCarthy said there was now “clarity” regarding the preparation of the book of evidence and Ms Stone was satisfied to await an amalgamated book. But Ms McCarthy said she was flagging her concerns as her client has had this “hanging over her since 2018” and she maintained she had not broken the law.

“She is being dealt with like she is a drug dealer and that is causing her considerable distress,” said Ms McCarthy.

“It is all getting on top of her.”

Two other co-accused are also awaiting a book of evidence. Jack Palmer, aged 32, of 108 Shandon Street in Cork, was charged with one count of possessing drugs with a value exceeding €13,000 for sale or supply, two counts of having drugs for sale or supply, and two counts of possession of drugs.

Donovan Linde, aged 31, of Ardnatrash, Glengarriff, Co Cork, was also charged with one count of having drugs with a value exceeding €13,000 for sale or supply, two counts of having drugs for sale or supply, and two counts of possession of drugs.

Solicitor for both men, Flor Murphy, said he consented to a further adjournment to January and both solicitors consented to a return before the court in January, and not peremptorily against the State.

Judge McNulty acceded to the application, and all three will remain on continuing bail to appear before the court on January 11 next.