A heroin addict who lived in squalor and sold drugs to get a deposit for a house has been given a three-year suspended sentence by Judge Kevin Haugh.
Mairead Reilly (25), a mother of two children, of St Michael's Estate, Inchicore, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a single charge of possessing heroin for sale and supply.
Sgt Ashley O'Sullivan told Mr Roger Sweetman, prosecuting, that on May 14th, 1997, gardai searched Ms Reilly's flat and seized £2,000 worth of heroin. He said at the time she was living in very poor conditions, the worst he had ever seen. He said Ms Reilly immediately admitted selling the heroin in return for money she was desperately trying to save for a deposit on a house. She has three previous convictions.
Sgt O'Sullivan told Ms Isabel Kennedy, defending, that the relationship with her husband was now at an end. Ms Kennedy argued if Ms Reilly could remain drug-free she would be unlikely to come before the court again. She had just two weeks to complete the Bridge Project rehabilitation programme.