A DRUG addict who hid €600 worth of heroin in her underwear while her partner brandished a large sword at gardaí has been given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Susan Byrne (26), Shanganagh Wood, Shankill, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply and obstructing a garda at Shankill on April 16th, 2005.
Garda Mark Russell told Remy Farrell, prosecuting, that gardaí forced their way into the house. Byrne’s partner and co-accused came out of a bedroom carrying a large sword, forcing the gardaí to step back.
Byrne then came out of the room and gardaí saw her trying to put something into her underwear.
Garda Russell said that the standoff ended when Byrne’s boyfriend put down the sword and gardaí were able to overpower and arrest him. A female garda had to be called to retrieve the 28 deals of heroin from Byrne’s underwear.
Byrne later took full responsibility for the drugs and told gardaí she was a drug user. She had no previous convictions.
Judge Katherine Delahunt accepted that Byrne had taken considerable steps to deal with her drug addiction and described her efforts as “impressive”. She also took into account the fact that she had not come to Garda attention since.
Byrne has been in a relationship with her co-accused for several years and the couple have a seven-year-old child.
The judge suspended the entire sentence for three years.