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Prison addiction counsellor charged with drug dealing after cocaine and cash seizure

She was arrested on Wednesday morning after gardaí stopped a car on the North Circular Road and recovered a quantity of suspected cocaine.

Today at 15:29

A drug addiction counsellor who works in a Dublin prison has been charged with dealing cocaine, cannabis and tablets after she was arrested in a garda operation.

Kate O’Mahony (35), with an address in Castleknock, was detained as part of an investigation led by the DMR North Central Divisional Drugs Unit.

She now faces a total of nine charges including possession of drugs for sale and supply as well as handling the proceeds of crime.

Ms O’Mahony works as a drugs counsellor in Mountjoy Prison through an addiction service who are contracted by the Irish Prison Service (IPS).

She was arrested on Wednesday morning after gardaí stopped a car on the North Circular Road and recovered a quantity of suspected cocaine.

In a follow-up operation at her home, gardaí recovered more suspected drugs including cocaine, cannabis, and benzodiazepine, as well as a quantity of cash.

She was detained for questioning and was brought before the Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street today.

Ms O’Mahony is charged with the possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale and supply at the North Circular Road on January 10, 2024. She is also charged with simple possession of the drug at the same location on the same date.

Ms O’Mahony is further accused of possessing cocaine, cannabis, and benzodiazepines at her home for the purpose of sale and supply.

She is also charged with simple possession of the same drugs at the same location on January 10.

The drugs counsellor faces a ninth charge of handling the proceeds of crime at her Castleknock home.

Garda Kylie Beirne, of the DMR North Central Divisional Drug Unit, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

The accused was remanded on bail and will appear in court again at a later date. She is a registered counsellor who provides services for a range of issues and has been working in Mountjoy Prison as a drug counsellor for some time.

In a statement the IPS said: “It would not be appropriate to comment as the matter is currently being investigated by gardaí”.

A Garda spokesperson said: “On January 10th, 2024 Gardaí attached to the DMR North Central Divisional stopped a car in the Dublin 7 area an recovered a quantity of suspected drugs.

“A woman in her 30s was arrested at the scene and detained for questioning a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.

“A follow up search was conducted at a house in the Dublin 15 area and further quantities of drugs recovered along with a sum of cash.

“The woman has since been charged in connection with the investigation and is due to appear before a sitting of Court 1, Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin this morning. All of the drugs seized are subject to analysis,” the spokesperson added.