A former UCD student who was found transporting over €20,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in a borrowed car "as a favour" has had her case adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Claire Hanrahan (21) of Terenure Road East pleaded guilty to possession of ecstasy for sale or supply at Winetavern Street and at Comeragh Road, Drimnagh, on December 14th, 2005. Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned the case to allow her to consider the issues involved.
Garda Corina Carroll told Garnet Orange BL, prosecuting, that she searched a car Hanrahan was driving at Winetavern Street on foot of confidential information. She said she found two clear plastic bags in Hanrahan's handbag containing ecstasy tablets valued at €20,060.
A search of the bedroom of the apartment where Hanrahan was living yielded a further €540 worth of ecstasy and a quantity of cannabis resin valued at €34.
Garda Carroll said that Hanrahan told them that she had collected the tablets and brought them to a person "as a favour". She said this person had counted out 2,000 tablets for her to bring to someone else and it was in the course of this second trip that she was stopped.
She agreed with John Nolan BL, defending Hanrahan, that the car was not hers and that Hanrahan immediately admitted her guilt. She agreed that there had been a "degree of naivety" on Hanrahan's part. She told the judge that she believed the tablets were being transported as a "favour" and did not think any money would change hands.
Martina Hanrahan, mother of the accused, told Mr Nolan her daughter had been a "very good student" and she "had great hopes for her". She said her daughter had wanted a year out after school but she had persuaded her to go to UCD, which Hanrahan found "unstructured". Despite her pleas, Hanrahan left college six weeks before she was due to sit her exams. Her daughter was also diagnosed with diabetes, which was a "total shock".
Ms Hanrahan told her daughter to get a job and a flat, not expecting her to do so. She said this incident was "out of character" for her daughter and she was now living at the family home and was in employment.
Mr Nolan submitted it was clear from her interviews that Hanrahan had been involved in similar activities on five or six occasions when money had changed hands. He said Hanrahan had "co-operated to the highest degree with the gardaí".