Kildare woman caught hiding drugs in underwear avoids jail term

Louise McInerney, 41, admitted drug possession after discarding a substance from her underwear during a Garda search. She received a suspended sentence and was ordered to attend the Athy Alternative Project.

Portlaoise court orders Kildare woman to attend rehabilitation programme

A 41-year-old Kildare woman who tried to flee and discard drugs from her underwear during a Garda search has received a three-month suspended sentence, leinsterleader.ie reports.

Louise McInerney, of 86 Lake Drive, Kilminchy, appeared before Portlaoise District Court charged with obstruction and possession of drugs for personal use at her home on 16 July.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told the court that officers arrived at the property at 7.30pm as part of a planned search. McInerney attempted to run and dropped "a white substance from her underwear," which was later valued at €80.

Her solicitor, Philip Meagher, said his client "panicked" and "fled from the immediate vicinity" when Gardaí presented a search warrant. He described her as apologetic, adding that the incident was "not an example she wants to show to her children."

Meagher also told the court that McInerney had since stopped using drugs, characterising the episode as "a temporary dalliance."

Judge Andrew Gubbins raised concern about the presence of children in the property at the time. Meagher clarified that the children were downstairs during the search.

Judge Gubbins granted legal aid and imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He further ordered McInerney to attend the Athy Alternative Project, a Probation Service-linked initiative that supports participants through education, life skills, employment preparation, and rehabilitation, with a particular focus on substance misuse and reducing reoffending.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)