Funky Skunk proprietor 'not in a good place' as she awaits book of evidence in drugs case
Helen Stone (pictured) who lives at Kilnacnappogue, Kealkil, Bantry, first came before the court last February, but at Bantry District Court this week Judge James McNulty was told that compiling a single book of evidence in relation to the charges means it will be January before it can be served on her. File picture: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts
A West Cork woman facing 64 drugs charges, including having substances for the purposes of sale or supply, is experiencing "immense distress” as she awaits a book of evidence being served on her.
Helen Stone, 57, who lives at Kilnacnappogue, Kealkil, Bantry, first came before the court last February, but at Bantry District Court this week Judge James McNulty was told that compiling a single book of evidence in relation to the charges means it will be January before it can be served on her.
The charges date back to November 2018 and at the first court appearance in February Judge McNulty noted the charges related to offences alleged to have taken place in three locations—Dublin, Cork City and Bantry—and to a business trading under the name of the Funky Skunk, allegedly involving cannabis and synthetic substances.
More recently five more charges were brought against Ms Stone, including an allegation that on May 5 last year at Caherogullane, Scart in Bantry, she had drugs, valued in excess of €13,000, for sale or supply.
At the first court hearing, Judge McNulty heard that gardaí seized €645,000 worth of drugs as part of an investigation which also involved the Cork West Divisional Drugs Unit, officers at Store Street Garda Station in Dublin, and with the assistance of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Health.
Ms Stone appeared again before Bantry District Court this week, when Garda Supt Joseph Moore said that a single book of evidence was still being prepared and that the State was seeking a further adjournment to next January.
“The idea was to bring all charges together in one book [of evidence],” Supt Moore said. “This is going to take a long time and a lot of work.”
Colette McCarthy, solicitor for Ms Stone, said her issue was that her client was “very distressed”. “We are concerned regarding mental health issues,” she told the judge.
Ms McCarthy said there was now “clarity” regarding the preparation of the book of evidence and Ms Stone was satisfied to await an amalgamated book. But Ms McCarthy said she was flagging her concerns as her client has had this “hanging over her since 2018” and she maintained she had not broken the law.
“She is being dealt with like she is a drug-dealer and that is causing her considerable distress,” Ms McCarthy said. “It is all getting on top of her.”
Two other co-accused are also awaiting a book of evidence. Jack Palmer, aged 32, of 108 Shandon St in Cork, was charged with one count of possessing drugs with a value exceeding €13,000 for sale or supply, two counts of having drugs for sale or supply and two counts of possession of drugs.
Donovan Linde, 31 and of Ardnatrash, Glengarriff, was also charged with one count of having drugs with a value exceeding €13,000 for sale or supply, two counts of having drugs for sale or supply and two counts of possession of drugs.
All three will remain on continuing bail to appear before the court on January 11 next.
