Jail sentence for Cork woman who pulled deals of heroin from underwear and tried to swallow them

A 40-year-old woman pulled deals of heroin from her underwear and tried to swallow them in an attempt to obstruct a search and now she has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed that sentence on Sandra Byrne at Cork District Court where she pleaded guilty to obstruction of a search, possession of the drugs, having them for sale or supply and money-laundering in respect of cash – the proceeds of criminal activity.

Detective Garda Joe Crowley charged Sandra Byrne of Upper Convent Road, Blackrock, Cork, with resisting Detective Garda Sharon Sweeney during a search at the Bridewell garda station on October 21, possession of Diamorphine (heroin) and possession of this drug for sale or supply on the same occasion.

Detective Garda Crowley said Ms Byrne, 40, was stopped at Blackrock Road at around 3.30 p.m. on October 21.

“At the Bridewell garda station she was searched by Det Garda Sharon Sweeney. A bag of suspected Diamorphine was recovered from her bra.

“As the search continued, Sandra Byrne took two packages from her panties and attempted to swallow them. Sandra Byrne violently obstructed Det Garda Sweeney who tried to prevent her from swallowing the packages,” Det Garda Crowley said.

Assistance had to be called and Ms Byrne spat two packages on the ground, one containing seven individual wraps of suspected Diamorphine and 16 individual wraps of Diamorphine.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that Ms Byrne’s mobile phone was seized and examined and it contained evidence of drug-dealing with references to “grams, Qs and tabs” in the texts. The heroin had a suspected value of €700 and she also had €1,700 in cash.

Regarding the cash, she initially said she had withdrawn €1,500 from a credit union to pay for a planned holiday.

Diane Hallahan solicitor said the defendant was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and cooperated with the investigation. Judge Dorgan acceded to Ms Hallahan’s application to backdate the sentence to October when she went into custody.