Garda in court charged with possession of cocaine

Jimell Henry (34) charged with disclosing information obtained in course of duty

A garda has appeared in court charged with possession of cocaine and disclosing information obtained in the course of her duties, knowing the disclosure was likely to have a harmful effect.

Garda Jimell Henry (34), Cairns Hill, Sligo, appeared before Sligo District Court on Thursday.

She faces a total of eight charges including that at 6.07am on December 16th, 2014, in Dublin, as a member of An Garda Síochána, she disclosed information obtained in the course of her duties, knowing that the disclosure was likely to have a harmful effect.

She was also charged with six similar offences on various dates and locations between December 2014 and January 2015. These are alleged to have taken place at 10.41pm on January 14th, 2015, in Westmeath; at 5.32pm on December 27th, 2014 in Sligo; at 10.40pm on January 14th, 2015 in Westmeath; at 8.22am on January 13th, 2015, in Dublin; at 7.58am on January 13th, 2015 in Dublin, and on December 31st, 2014, at 8.01pm in Dublin.

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The defendant was also charged with possession of cocaine at Tullynagracken North, Sligo, on January 16th, 2015.

Det Insp Jim Delaney told the court he arrested the defendant at Cairns Hill at 10.20am on Thursday, and later charged her at Sligo Garda Station. The defendant said "no reply" to each of the eight charges put to her .

Mr Delaney applied for an adjournment for the preparation of a book of evidence.

There was no objection to bail but owing to the gravity of the charges an independent bond of €10,000 would be needed, the court heard.

The defendant was ordered to surrender her passport, stay in the jurisdiction, and not interfere with any known witness. She was also told to sign on weekly at Sligo Garda Station.

Judge Kevin Kilrane remanded her on bail to appear in court again on May 12th.

Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern applied for and was granted legal aid as his client’s income had been reduced to €185 per week.

The court heard the woman's father, Kevin Henry, would be putting up the independent bond.

The defendant was released on bail on her own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €10,000.