A woman named Geraldine McNamee from John Street in Derry has been sentenced to two months in jail for supplying a man with Pregabalin, which ultimately led to his death. The 37-year-old gave the 20-year-old man a single Pregablin tablet last year, causing him to suffer a fatal cardiac arrest. Despite initially appealing the sentence she received in the Magistrate’s Court, McNamee decided to withdraw her appeal in court. The anonymity order in the case was also lifted by Judge Neil Rafferty KC, as there was no known paramilitary threat against McNamee.
During the court hearings, McNamee admitted to possessing Pregabalin with the intent to supply and being involved in supplying the drug. District Judge Barney McElholm expressed his concerns about the drug, stating that Pregabalin should be classified as a Class A drug due to its dangerous nature. Following the man’s death, police investigations led them to McNamee’s residence where they found six sheets of Pregabalin. McNamee confessed to supplying the drug to others when she was arrested.
In the County Court, McNamee’s barrister, Michael Donaghey, informed Judge Rafferty that McNamee had chosen to withdraw her appeal and was promptly taken into custody to serve her two-month sentence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious legal consequences that can result from supplying dangerous substances to others, especially when it leads to tragic outcomes like in this instance. It highlights the importance of being aware of the potential harm that certain drugs can cause and the responsibility that individuals have in ensuring the safety of others.
