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Cork woman in court over allegedly smuggling drugs into prison

Cork woman in court over allegedly smuggling drugs into prison

Sunday World5 days ago
Megan Walsh, 29, has six charges against her that were allegedly committed on July 25.
A Cork woman appeared in court on drugs charges today after she was caught trying to smuggle them into a prison.
Appearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court by video link from police custody, 29-year-old Megan Walsh confirmed she understood the six charges against her, alleged to have been committed on 25 July this year.
Walsh, from Brook Avenue in Cork, faces two charges of conveying list A articles into HMP Magilligan, two charges of importing cannabis and pregabalin and possessing the Class B and Class C drugs.
Stock image: Getty
News in 90 Seconds - July 26th
The court heard how Walsh was visiting a male at HMP Magilligan when two 'wraps' fell from her handbag.
Those were seized and were found to contain herbal cannabis and 'buds,' a slang term for pregabalin.
Arrested and interviewed, Walsh admitted she had got the train from Dundalk to Grand Central Station where she met a man and he gave her the two wraps.
Walsh also admitted 'she wasn't sure what was inside them but she knew it was illegal,' District Judge Peter Magill told the court, adding that she 'refused to provide' any details or description of the man she met.
Having heard that Walsh has a clear record, the judge highlighted that 'here's the thing, if this goes on indictment that will take a considerable period of time.'
'Even if she pleads guilty, it will take months to get to a Crown Court and with a clear record, I'm not sure she will get a custodial sentence but by the time it's dealt with, she will have served a significant custodial sentence,' Judge Magill explained.
Defence counsel Gavin Cairns suggested that Walsh could be bailed to reside with her friend in Enniskillen, even in the short term, and that would allow her to find an alternative accommodation 'or to lodge a cash surety to alleviate police concerns.'
Granting bail in the sum of £250 with a condition that Walsh resides at Villa Terrace in Enniskillen, Judge Magill warned that if Walsh chose to go back to Cork without permission, 'if she's foolish enough to do that,' she runs the risk of being held in custody while 'potentially drawn out' extradition proceedings are set in train.
The case was adjourned to 18 August.
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