The Cork women were charged with having the substantial quantity of cannabis for sale or supply.
Two Cork women who are no longer friends were together when a speaker containing a hidden stash of thousands of euro worth of cannabis was delivered.
They were caught within moments of the parcel being taken into the house and later charged with having the substantial quantity of cannabis for sale or supply.
Detective Garda Dermot Crowley gave evidence against the two women — 39-year-old Rachel Scannell of Farranferris Crescent, Farranree, Cork, and 42-year-old Charlene Crowley of Fairfield Meadows, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
On October 21, 2022, at Ms Crowley’s home at Fairfield Meadows, the controlled delivery of a package was carried out by Customs and Excise officers and An Garda Síochána. It had become known to the authorities that there was an illegal drug inside.
The declared item was a speaker but the internal wiring and components had been removed to allow for the packing of the drugs.
Detective Garda Crowley said: “It was delivered to Charlene Crowley’s home. Rachel Scannell accepted the package and signed for it. She later placed the package into the rear seat of a car and drove from the residence. Gardaí intercepted and seized this package and another package.”
The total quantity of cannabis seized amounted to approximately €50,000. Most of that cannabis was contained in that October 21 delivery.
Being a quantity greater than €13,000 which they both admitted having for sale or supply, they were at risk of minimum sentences of ten years unless Judge Dermot Sheehan found there were exceptional circumstances in the case.
‘She regrets it every day’
Tom Creed, senior counsel, said: “This was the biggest mistake Rachel Scannell ever made and she regrets it every day.
“She was unfortunate she was in her friend’s house and she agreed to sign for a package.
“It would appear that they are not friends anymore and that is understandable.
“The controlled delivery of a package at this address on October 21, 2022, was not addressed to her. Ms Scannell took the package in. She removed another package from under a bed upstairs and drove them away.” Both packages contained cannabis.
Mr Creed said she has no previous convictions, works in two part-time jobs, and is deemed to be at low risk of reoffending.
Judge Sheehan said, in sentencing Rachel Scannell: “I am concerned about the background of the accused. She has a lot of responsibilities. Given the unusual nature of her role, foolishly helping her friend, I will impose a sentence of three years which will be suspended provided she keeps a clear record and comes to no adverse notice.”
Alice Fawsitt, senior counsel, stressed that Charlene Crowley does not take drugs and she asked for an opportunity to show she is not taking drugs and does not have an ambivalent attitude to drugs.
Judge Sheehan said: “Ms Crowley’s case is more complex in terms of background and consumption of other drugs. I will adjourn sentencing until the February 2025 sessions. I am making no promises.”
The judge required that she would be subject to three urinalysis tests in the meantime.
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Cork women charged over delivery of speaker that contained hidden stash of cannabis – Irish Examiner
