Belfast woman tried to smuggle drugs into high security jail

A Belfast woman has admitted trying to smuggle three different drugs into Maghaberry Prison.

In Craigavon Crown Court, Nicola Courtney (40) entered guilty pleas to three counts of “conveying a list A article,” class A cocaine, class B herbal cannabis and class C sedative phenazepam, into the high security jail on October 30th, 2013.

Courtney, from Altnagarron Close in Belfast, also admitted charges of supplying the three different illicit drugs on the same date, but denied a charge of possessing phenazepam with intent to supply and other counts alleging the simple possession of cocaine and phenazepam.

Prosecuting lawyer Nicola Auret told the court that although Courtney had admitted the more serious offences, “I would not anticipate there would be any movement” on the count of possessing class C with intent so there would still be a trial required, albeit much shorter than first thought.

Asking for the case to be listed for mention next week, defence lawyer Dennis Boyd said there was “no dispute about what she actually did” and that he was “confident” the issues could be worked out.

Releasing Courtney on continuing bail, Judge Patrick Lynch QC said while it was “ambitious,” he was listing the trial for February 16th.