Tallaght woman smuggled heroin into Wheatfield Prison

By Brendan Grehan

A WOMAN who smuggled heroin and Valium into Wheatfield Prison for her fiancé who later died has received a three-month suspended sentence in Blanchardstown District Court.

Danielle Hayes (27) was engaged to Kevin Byrne (23) when she passed a package of heroin and Valium to him during a visit.

Hayes, with an address at Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to unlawfully conveying drugs into Wheatfield Prison, Clondalkin, on December 23, 2014.

She was before Judge David McHugh for a pre-sentence report. Hayes was accompanied in court by her parents.

Garda Thomas Doyle had told the court that on December 23, 2014, Hayes went to the prison to visit her fiance at 10.50am.

During that visit, at around 11.20am Hayes was seen passing a package to Mr Byrne.

He had the package in his hand when staff intervened and as they approached, he put it in his mouth.

Mr Byrne was removed and asked to hand it over, but he denied that he had received any package.

He was taken to a special observation cell, while Hayes left the prison.

The following morning, December 24, Mr Byrne was found unresponsive in the cell by prison staff at 8.10am. Medical assistance was summoned and he was later pronounced dead.

State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy found that the cause of death was inhalation of gastric contents caused by taking heroin and diazepam.

Hayes later went to down to Ronanstown Garda Station and made a voluntary statement outlining her relationship with Kevin Byrne.

The court had heard that the deceased’s familywas still in contact with Hayes and were “very understanding of what occurred”.

Hayes’ counsel, Jennifer Jackson Bl, told Judge McHugh that it was a good report. She said Hayes had to live with her actions for every day of her life.

The court heard that Hayes had one previous conviction for a drugs offence.

Judge McHugh noted that Hayes had suffered greatly in her personal life and had been in foster care. He sentenced her to three months jail, suspended for 12 months.