A woman caught importing £200,000 of cocaine from the Carribbean in "mules" shoes, has been given a five year suspended sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Bridget Boyne (22), a mother of two, from Buttercup Park, Darndale, pleaded guilty to the offence which took place on August 24, 2000.
Her luggage was searched at Dublin Airport where Customs and Excise officials found the 1.69 kilograms of cocaine. Boyne said she had been persuaded by a man named "Paul Maloney" to bring the cocaine into Ireland in return for a payment of £14,000.
Judge McCartan said the offence was extremely serious and called for a mandatory 10 year sentence but due to her co-operation with gardaí and her previous good record he could be lenient.
He was satisfied she was pressured into smuggling the cocaine by her former boyfriend due to her financial difficulties but if she got into trouble over the next 10 years she would serve her sentence.
Judge McCartan had indicated at an earlier hearing that he could give a suspended sentence on condition that she find a permanent place of residence, secure employment and refrain from any contact with the man who pressured her into importing the drugs.