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Woman (38) caught with over €4k worth of drugs including an ‘exotic substance'
Defence barrister, Mr Garnet Orange, SC said at the time of the offence, Candice Faulkner Faulkner was an advocate for the cannabis use.
A Donegal woman has appeared in court after being caught with over €4,000 worth of drugs, including an 'exotic substance.'
Candice Faulkner (38) of Marion Park, Buncrana appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer charged with drugs offences.
She is charged with possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for unlawful sale or supply at Marion Park on December 28, 2020.
Additionally, she is also charged with possessing cannabis resin for the purpose of unlawful sale or supply to another on the same date and location.
Faulkner is also charged with possessing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine for the purpose of unlawful sale or supply to another on the same date and location.
Garda Declan O'Brien and State Prosecutor Fiona Crawford BL outlined the details of the case and said a search warrant was obtained to search Faulkner's property in December 2020.
Faulkner was not present at the time of the search on December 28, 2020 but she returned to the house while the gardaí were there.
Candice Faulkner. Photo: Northwest News Pix
News in 90 Seconds - 7th June
The court heard that cannabis, cannabis resin and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (N N DMT) were found at the property.
Faulkner made full admissions to owning the cannabis while scales, jars and various other items were also found in the property.
The court heard Faulkner had previous convictions but they related to traffic matters.
Defence barrister, Mr Garnet Orange, SC said at the time of the offence, Faulkner was an advocate for the cannabis use.
The cannabis found was 87.7 grams valued at €1,754 while the 289grams of cannabis resin was valued at €1,735.80.
However, the court heard it was difficult to put a value on the other plant material but it was valued at €620.
In relation to the N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (N N DMT), the court heard a 'strange' red bark material and is a hallucinogenic.
Mr Orange referred to the substance as 'eye catching' and an 'exotic substance'.
He added there was a difficulty in identifying what it was and placing an evaluation on the substance.
Mr Orange said when Faulkner was asked about the substance, she 'didn't have a clue about it' and he said it was found on top of the wardrobe and was covered in dust.
The court heard there was a process to distil the hallucinogenic and there was no evidence to suggest that this process was carried out.
Mr Orange said Faulkner is a long time cannabis user who uses it in the context of ADHD and she is not out selling drugs on the street.
He said the emphasis should be on supply rather than sale.
Judge John Aylmer questioned about the other items found at the house and Mr Orange said Faulkner would measure out her own consumption before use and the drugs were for personal use while she also denies that a tick list had anything to do with her.
The court heard Faulkner is keen to stop using and is no longer an advocate for cannabis use.
Mr Orange asked Judge John Aylmer to deal with the case by a suspended sentence and asked for a probation report to be completed on his client.
Judge John Aylmer approved the request for a probation report and ordered it to include an assessment for suitability for community service.
The case was adjourned to the October session of the Letterkenny Circuit Court.
