‘harmless’ | 

‘Vulnerable’ Dublin woman (50) spared jail for holding drugs worth €50k

Judge Berkeley said, “It serves no services to society to put a woman like this into custody”

Yesterday at 16:19

A fifty-year-old “vulnerable” woman has been handed a five-year suspended sentence for holding €50k worth of cannabis in her home.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Annemarie Ruth (50) of Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1 pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug in the form of cannabis on February 24, 2021. She has four previous convictions, all dating back to 2009.

Passing sentence today, Judge Sarah Berkeley said, “The accused comes before this court having been found in possession of €50k worth of cannabis.”

Judge Berkeley said she would take into consideration the full admissions made by Ruth, the cooperation and that the accused was described as “a vulnerable person”. She noted that gardaí were focused on Ruth’s then partner, and not her at the time of this offence.

The judge said the accused entered an early guilty plea and has shown remorse. She noted that Ruth has made attempts in the past to rehabilitate.

Judge Berkeley said, “It serves no services to society to put a woman like this into custody.”

She sentenced Ruth to five years in prison but suspended it in full for five years. She also placed Ruth under the supervision of the probation services for eighteen months and directed that she follow all their directions.

Garda Cillian Meyler told John Quirke BL, prosecuting, that gardaí received information and obtained a search warrant for Ruth’s home. At 6.35 pm on the day in question, gardaí arrived at the house and searched it. The accused was present and cooperated with gardaí.

Gda Meyler said that cannabis was found in various locations throughout the house, with a total street value of €50,928. Ruth was arrested and brought for interview. The garda noted that Ruth was cooperative and made admissions. She said that she had been a heroin addict and that she wasn’t supplying the cannabis but holding it for someone.

Gda Myler agreed with Sean Gillane SC, defending, that having been arrested, his client answered all questions put to her. The garda further agreed that Ruth was “harmless, warm, vulnerable and had a longstanding history of addiction”.

The garda agreed with counsel that Ruth was minding the drugs and that she had been given a small amount of drugs and cash to do so. He also added that it was Ruth’s then partner whom gardaí was focused on at this time and not this accused.

Mr Gillane said his client had been in a “destructive relationship” at the time of this offence and had been hospitalised with a broken jaw.

Counsel said his client had worked as a cleaner but was unable to do so at present as she suffered from anxiety but hopes to return to work in the near future.

He said his client maintains good family support and had members of her family in court to support her. A handwritten letter from Ruth was handed into the court but not read aloud.

Mr Gillane asked the court to take into account that his client has no trappings of wealth, had entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and was vulnerable at the time of this offence.