Suspended sentences for couple arising from 2007 death of model Katy French
Ann Corcoran of Tolka Road, Clonliffe Road, Dublin. photograph: colin keegan, collins and fennell photography/pa wire
Katy French's parents, Janet and John French, and her sister, Jill French, leaving Trim Circuit Court yesterday. photograph: colin keegan, collins and fennell photography/pa wire
The late model Katy French. photograph: colin keegan, collins and fennell photography/pa wire
Kieron Ducie, Lambertstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath. photograph: colin keegan, collins and fennell photography/pa wire
A man and a woman have been given suspended sentences at Trim Circuit Court on drugs charges arising from the death of the professional model Katy French in Co Meath five years ago.
Kieron Ducie (43), Lamberstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath, and Ann Corcoran (32), Tolka Road, Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, had admitted that at an unknown location between 6pm on December 1st, 2007, and 10am on December 2nd, 2007, they procured another man, Russell Memery, to possess cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply to another.
A second charge against the couple was withdrawn in November last. That charge alleged that on the same dates at Lamberstown Manor, Kilmessan, they intentionally or recklessly engaged in the supply of cocaine to Ms French and failure to get medical assistance in a timely fashion, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.
Ms French died in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, on December 6th, 2007, a number of days after she had collapsed at Kieron Ducie’s home early on Sunday December 2nd.
Two years ago then 25-year-old Memery, who had been living at Yellow Clay Manor, Navan, became the first person charged in connection with the death of Ms French.
He was given a 2½-year suspended sentence at Trim Circuit Court after pleading guilty to having conspired to possess cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply to another between 11pm on December 1st and 3am on December 2nd, 2007.
Brain seizure
Supt Michael Devine told Trim Circuit Court yesterday an autopsy showed Ms French had died from a brain seizure brought about by ingesting cocaine.
Replying to prosecuting counsel Jonathan Kilfeather SC, the superintendent said Ms French had contacted Ducie at 11pm on December 1st, saying she wanted to call out to Corcoran who was in Ducie’s house and asked him to arrange for her to get a supply of cocaine.
Ducie then contacted Memery and following a number of calls which also involved Corcoran and Ms French, Memery arranged to meet Ms French at the Statoil petrol station in Clonee to hand over the drugs.
The court heard the model had paid €200 which Memery then passed on to another man.
Drinking and talking
Corcoran then met Ms French at Warrenstown and led her to Kilmessan, where they spent the night drinking and talking.
Ducie told gardaí he had been on a night out in Dublin and returned to the house at 6.30am and the two women were still up. He put Ms French to bed in a downstairs room about 8am and he and Corcoran retired upstairs.
