Woman who collected €417k worth of heroin in Aldi bag was in debt to dealer
Sharon Hickey told gardai that she was been told to find a hiding place for the drugs and that she would then be contacted at a later date.
Sharon Hickey (45) with an address at Dolphin’s Barn, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
A woman told to find a hiding place for more than €417,000 of heroin in order to pay off her drug debt will be sentenced after Christmas.
Sharon Hickey (45), of Dolphins Barn, Kilmainhaim, Dublin 8, appeared before Judge Elma Sheahan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday having pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub in Dublin 8 on April 12, 2022.
Garda Kerrie Sullivan said the pub was under surveillance when Hickey was seen being given a green Aldi bag by co-accused Gregory Dunne (39) of North Circular Road, Dublin 7.
Dunne was also seen handing Hickey cash. She then left to hail a taxi from a nearby cab rank.
Gardai were called and Hickey was intercepted when she exited the taxi a short distance away.
They found three packages of heroin in the bag she had been given. The drugs weighed 2.9kg and had a street value of €417,480. Hickey was also found to have €500 in cash.
She was arrested and detained.
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She made full admissions during interview and said she was aware that the packages contained drugs.
Hickey told gardai that she was been told to find a hiding place for the drugs and that she would then be contacted at a later date.
Hickey said she had accrued a debt from bills, credit cards and drugs. In exchange for moving the drugs, she would be paid €500, which was the cash found in her possession, and her drug debt would be reduced.
Geraldine Small SC, defending, said that Hickey “had a very difficult childhood” and “battled with addiction from an early stage.” She said the offence is something Hickey “deeply regrets”.
Ms Small told the court Hickey was a “woman who tried to advance herself” and had a certificate in addiction studies from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
She said that at the time of the offending Hickey had “relapsed and accrued a debt as a consequence.”
Ms Small said Hickey “undoubtedly has made a very big mistake” but asked the court “to be as lenient as you possibly can.”
Hickey has one previous conviction for larceny dating back to the 1990s.
Judge Sheahan adjourned the case for finalisation on January 12, 2024.
Hickey's co-accused Dunne (39) had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub in Dublin 8 on April 12, 2022.
Dunne was handed an eight year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions by Judge Sheahan in October.
