‘Sort of guilty’ Longford hairdresser held cash and jewellery in exchange for cocaine

A Longford hairdresser labelled by a judge as “sort of guilty” of money-laundering and possession of a significant quantity of jewellery has received community service and a suspended prison sentence following her appearance at Longford Circuit Court.

Antoinette Devaney (52), with an address in Old Ardnacassa, Co Longford, appeared before the courts after Gardaí uncovered cash to the value of €7,750, and jewellery to the value of more than €20,000 in her home.

She pleaded guilty to both charges in Longford Circuit Court, but Judge Kenneth Connolly expressed concern for what a probation report referred to as “avoidance behaviour”.

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He noted Ms Devaney had initially taken a trial date but pleaded guilty before a jury was empanelled - something he said was “unusual” considering she had made admissions to Gardaí.

“My reading of matters is that it seems to me she’s saying ‘I’m sort of guilty’. It’s a quantified guilt based on legal advice. She accepts legal advice but she’s not really guilty,” he said.

Shane Geraghty BL, for the state, outlined to the court that, on February 23, 2021, Garda Brian Carroll attended at Ms Devaney’s home with a search warrant and a number of other Gardaí.

Items discovered in the woman’s home included the cash sum of €7,750, an 18kt yellow gold Rolex watch valued at €10,820, a pair of diamond stud earrings worth €1,150, a pair of zirconia stud earrings worth €900, and a necklace, the value of which was not given in court. The total value of the jewellery seized was €20,370.

Ms Devaney was arrested and questioned and told Gardaí she “honestly thought it wasn’t that big a deal” that she’d held the items.

“It was stupid. I was given a couple of bags of cocaine to do it. I was just naive,” she said, adding that she was holding the cash and jewellery for a person she did not wish to identify “for safety reasons”.

Niall Flynn BL, for the defence, outlined to the court that his client was fully cooperative with Gardaí, save for the identification of the woman she was holding the items for.

“There’s an element of naivety or stupidity to this case. She expressed remorse and embarrassment. She hasn’t been on the Garda radar prior or since,” he said.

Ms Devaney also furnished the court with a letter of apology where she said she has learned a “very dear lesson” and promised “I’ll never be before the court again”.

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“She knew the cash wasn’t legit. It was a very large quantity of money and goods,” said Judge Connolly when sentencing Ms Devaney.

He noted that the accused received payment in drugs, which she had told Gardaí she used recreationally, that she did not identify the person who gave her the items and the drugs, had “no concern that the items may have been stolen” and was “not taking matters seriously at all”.

“She was a cog, but an important cog,” he said.

The court had made a referral to the Restorative Justice Programme, he noted, but a probation report for Ms Devaney did not support that decision, as she had not taken up services for rehabilitation.

Ms Devaney has since attended an assessment and accepted responsibility for what happened, he said.

In mitigation, Judge Connolly said “there are some mitigating factors, but the court still harbours concern that she thinks she’s ‘sort of guilty’”.

He noted the plea of guilty and her cooperation with the exception of the identity of the woman who gave her the goods. Ms Devaney has no previous convictions and has come to no subsequent Garda notice.

The probation report assessed her at low risk of reoffending, he noted, and she has expressed shame and embarrassment for her actions and furnished the court with a letter of apology.

For holding the cash, Judge Connolly proceeded to give a community service order of 240 hours, to include her involvement in the Restorative Justice Scheme.

For possession of the jewellery, he imposed a two year prison sentence, which he suspended in full for four years, before ordering the jewellery and cash be surrendered to the state for a lawful owner to come forward.

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