A woman used by drug dealers as a "human tester" has been jailed for seven years for smuggling heroin valued at £570,000 from England.
Rachel Dunne (27), from Cherry Orchard Drive, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession with intent to supply drugs valued at more than £10,000 on June 22nd, 2000.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne said heroin abuse was a scourge and had appalling consequences for addicts.
The court was compelled to impose a sentence of seven years due to the size of the seizure.
Sgt Martin Walsh, from Ronanstown Garda station, told Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, he received confidential information about a flight from Stansted Airport, London.
He observed Dunne waiting at the luggage department and then take a suitcase.
He stopped her at the airport taxi rank where she immediately admitted having a large quantity of heroin.
Sgt Walsh told Mr Foley the heroin weighed 2 kg and had an estimated street value of £570,000. He said Dunne made a full admission of her role in the operation.
He said Dunne was originally a human tester for drug dealers. Her job was to inject the heroin to assess its quality, and as a result she developed a chronic addiction. She then moved on to work as a courier.
Sgt Walsh said Dunne's proceeds from the crime were small - heroin valued at £500, which was found in the suitcase. He agreed with Mr Erwan Mill-Arden SC, defending, that Dunne's addiction spiralled after she had worked as a tester. He said she had given material assistance to gardai and was co-operative.
She also made numerous statements outlining her role in the crime.