drug case | 

Garda accused of stealing cannabis from Dublin station locker faces court hearing

Garda Holly Lane (34) of Store Street station, appeared again at Dublin District Court today to be allocated the date for her trial

Today at 14:41

A Dublin-based Garda who denies breaking into a colleague’s locker to steal a €70 cannabis exhibit and keeping it for sale or supply will face a three-day hearing next year.

Garda Holly Lane, 34, of Store Street station, appeared again at Dublin District Court today to be allocated the date for her trial.

She is accused of causing criminal damage to a locker, theft of a cannabis exhibit from another garda, unlawful possession of the cannabis and having it for sale or supply at Store Street station on December 12, 2021.

She has pleaded not guilty, and Judge John Hughes set the trial down for hearing over three days commencing on March 25. The case will also be listed for mention in February.

At an earlier stage, the court had ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence, including CCTV footage, to the defence. The court had also heard that “The Director of Public Prosecutions directed summary disposal on all matters”.

Detective Superintendent Mark Jordan alleged that “the defendant, a member of An Garda Síochána, while on duty, forcibly opened a colleague’s locker, causing damage to the door and mechanism.”

The value of the damage was €30.

Detective Superintendent Jordan said that it was alleged the defendant stole cannabis, which had been an exhibit in a pending criminal case. He also said it was valued at about €70 and has been recovered.

The court heard it was claimed Garda Lane “stole and had it in her possession for the purpose of sale or supply”. Jurisdiction has been accepted for the case to stay in the District Court rather than sending it to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

The officer’s solicitor said her client pleaded not guilty.

The accused could have also opted for a jury trial in the Circuit Court but wanted a non-jury District Court. The proceedings have heard that she “made no reply to the charges after caution”.