Offaly woman admits role in £500,000 drugs case

A Co Offaly woman who pleaded guilty to importing heroin worth £500,000
from England has been remanded by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for
sentence on October 7th next.

Ms Eithne Coyne snr (47), with an address at Hogan Way, Geldston Road,
Hackney, London, admitted importing the heroin at Alexandra Quay,
Dublin, on February 5th last. She was originally from Tullamore and has
lived in England for some years.

Judge Cyril Kelly heard she was arrested at a house at Gracefield
Heights, Drumcondra, and now lives with a relative at Graigue Court,
Ballymun. Judge Kelly remanded her on continuing bail.

Det Garda Angela Willis told Judge Kelly that Ms Coyne had signed on
daily at Ballymun Garda station as part of her bail conditions. An
Englishman, John Walmsley (26), with an address at 19 Smalley Close,
London, is also due for sentence on October 7th for his role in
importing the same cache of heroin.

He pleaded guilty on July 10th and has been remanded in custody since.
The adjournment of his sentence was made at the request of his counsel,
Mr Niall Durnin (with Mr Brendan Grogan SC).

Fergus Duffy, also from Tullamore, was jailed for 10 years on June 4th
in connection with the same consignment of heroin. Duffy, who had an
address at Gracepark Heights, Drumcondra, was discovered by gardaí with
the cache at Apartment 8, Phoenix Court, Dublin. Judge Kelly granted
free legal aid to Ms Coyne on the application of her counsel, Mr Tom
O'Connell.

Det Garda Willis told prosecuting counsel, Mr George Birmingham (with Mr
Gregory Murphy SC), that Ms Coyne had been refused free legal aid in the
District Court on the basis of her signed statement to gardai.

Ms Coyne had claimed she was to be paid £4,000 for importing this cache
of heroin and had been paid various other sums for bringing in other
consignments. Judge Kelly agreed with Mr O'Connell's objection to this
evidence on the grounds that Ms Coyne had not been charged with other
alleged offences.

Ms Coyne in evidence said she was separated and unemployed. Her sole
income had been £84 support from the social services every fortnight.
Her Hackney home was a council house.

She denied in crossexamination by Mr Birmingham that she had any
financial interest in the house in which she had been arrested. Ms Coyne
also told Judge Kelly she had no other investments or accounts.