A man and woman have pleaded guilty to drug offences arising from the death of the model Katy French almost five years ago.
However, Trim Circuit Court heard yesterday that a second charge against both defendants, alleging the endangerment of Ms French, would not be proceeded with by the prosecution.
Both Kieron Ducie (42), Lamberstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath, and Ann Corcoran (32), Tolka Road, Clonliffe Road, Dublin, 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.
The second charge alleged that on the same dates at Lamberstown Manor, Kilmessan, they intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct to wit the supply of cocaine to Katy French and failure to get medical assistance in a timely fashion, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.
Prosecuting counsel Jonathan Kilfeather SC told Judge Leonie Reynolds that a nolle prosequi would be entered in relation to this second charge “in due course”.
The judge adjourned the case and remanded Ducie and Corcoran on bail to the same court on February 5th, 2013, when a date for evidence and sentencing will be set.
Both defendants sat within feet of Ms French’s mother Janet and sister Jill during the brief court appearance.
Three people have now pleaded guilty to drugs offences arising from the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms French.
Two years ago, then 25-year-old Memery, who had been living at Yellow Clay Manor, Navan, became the first person charged.
Memery 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, 2007, and 3am on December 2nd, 2007.
The court heard Memery had received €200 when he handed over cocaine to another person at the Statoil service station in Clonee, Co Meath.
Ms French died in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, in December 2007 a number of days after she had collapsed following a house party in Co Meath.
A postmortem concluded that the 24-year-old model had died as the result of brain damage and found traces of cocaine in her system.