A Buncrana woman found in possession of over €4,000 worth of illegal drugs – including a tree bark from which a rare hallucinogenic drug can be distilled – will be sentenced later this year.
Letterkenny Circuit Court heard that the attention of gardai was drawn to Candice Faulkner due to her actions as an advocate for the use of cannabis.
Faulkner pleaded guilty to three counts of having unlawfully in her possession a controlled drug for the purpose of unlawfully selling or supplying it to another.
The charges related to Faulkner, a 37-year-old, having cannabis, cannabis herb and n, n-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) at her home in Marian Park, Buncrana, on December 28, 2020.
Garda Declan O’Brien told State prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford BL that a search warrant was executed at Faulkner’s home on the day in question.
Faulkner was not present when gardai initially entered the property, but returned home during the course of the raid.
The seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
Officers located 87.7 grams of cannabis, 289.3 grams of cannabis resin and a quantity of a plant material, the N, N-DMT.
Other paraphernalia, including weighing scales, concealers, bags, other jars and a “tick list” were found in the operation.
The court heard that the value of the drugs amounted to €1,754 of cannabis and €1,735.80 of cannabis resin.
Garda O’Brien said the plant material was difficult to value, but the defence obtained a valuation of around €620.
Faulkner admitted to the possession of the cannabis and the cannabis resin.
Mr Garnet Orange SC, barrister for Faulkner, said the “eye-catching feature” of the case was the finding of the n, n-dimethyltryptamine. The court was told that this is a hallucinogenic drug and Mr Orange said it was a red bark, an “exotic substance”. Gardai initially had difficulty in finding out what it was and then encountered difficulty in valuing the substance.
Mr Orange said he had “never heard of it before”. The court was told that it was found on top of a wardrobe, covered in dust.
“She really didn’t have a clue about it either,” Mr Orange said.
The court heard that the substance undergoes a process where the hallucinogenic substance is effectively distilled from the bark. Garda O’Brien agreed with Mr Orange that there was no evidence to suggest that this process was done in this case.
Garda O’Brien said that Faulkner was “very cooperative” with the investigation, which was launched after the accused came to the attention of gardai due to being an “advocate” for cannabis use.
Faulkner was represented by Mr Orange, with Mr Sean McGee BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian.
Mr Orange said his client is a long-term cannabis user, who has used the drug in the context of ADHD.
“She is not someone who is ordinarily a trouble maker and she is not out on the street selling it,” Mr Orange told the court.
Judge Aylmer asked about the various items also located and Mr Orange replied that the scales were to weigh out her own consumption and that Faulkner would deny that the tick list was anything to do with her.
Mr Orange said: “She is a woman who has always worked and she raised a child when she was very young.”
Asking the court to deal with the matter in a non-custodial way, he added: “She is no longer an advocate; she does not go around extolling the virtues of cannabis.”
He said Faulkner is “very keen” to stop using cannabis.
Judge Aylmer sought the preparation of a probation report on Faulkner, to include an assessment on her suitability for community service.
He adjourned the case until October. Faulkner was remanded on continuing bail.
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