Athlone woman charged after two-year-old ingested cocaine at home drugs party

An Athlone woman in her 50s faces charges of permitting drug use at her home after a toddler consumed cocaine and was hospitalised in critical condition.

Toddler hospitalised after cocaine consumed at Athlone home

Google News IE — Crime (en) reports that Orla Scally (52), of Kilgarven, The Glebe, Fardrum, Athlone, has appeared before Athlone District Court charged with knowingly permitting the possession of controlled drugs on her property, following an alleged incident between 25 and 28 October 2025.

The criminal proceedings centre primarily on a two-year-old girl who consumed a quantity of cocaine during a party held at Ms Scally's home. The child, who has no familial connection to the accused, was subsequently brought to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe before being transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin in a critical condition.

Detective Garda John Divilly told the court the toddler spent five days under medical assessment and has since fully recovered. A urine sample taken from the child returned a positive result for cocaine.

Det Garda Divilly said the State's evidence consists largely of CCTV footage and mobile phone data. "Phones were seized and evidence was obtained showing that cocaine was being consumed and drugs were being stored at the home of Orla Scally," he told the court. A follow-up search of the property uncovered a small amount of cocaine on Ms Scally's bedside locker.

The detective also confirmed that two further individuals are to be sent forward for trial on more serious charges. "There was CCTV at the house showing people present, and there are text messages confirming drug use was going on," Det Garda Divilly added.

Ms Scally is charged under section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Director of Public Prosecutions has consented to the case being dealt with by summary disposal in the district court, subject to the judge granting jurisdiction.

Judge John Brennan initially declined jurisdiction, indicating the matter was too serious for district court level. He reversed that decision following an appeal by defence solicitor Patrick Carty, who noted his client faced a single charge of allowing her home to be used for drug consumption.

Carty sought an adjournment to October, citing a considerable volume of disclosure already provided to the defence by investigating Gardaí. Ms Scally was remanded on bail to a sitting of Athlone District Court on 28 October.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)