Judge took ‘very dim view’ of Mayo woman obstructing gardaí during drugs search

A woman obstructed gardaí as they carried out a drug search.

Victoria Garrett, aged 38, of Turlough, Castlebar, contested the charge before a sitting of Castlebar District Court.

Sergeant Darren Conlon told the court that on September 6, 2025, he and colleagues went to property in Turlough to execute a search warrant.

Garrett was not the subject of the warrant. He said the site contained a family home, shed, smaller home, and a caravan.

Sergeant Conlon said while knocking on the door of the larger house, which belonged to Garrett’s parents, the accused approached and asked what they were doing there.

Witness said he told the defendant they had a search warrant and she was informed they were gardaí. This was denied by Garrett.

He said he was wearing a stab-proof vest with 'Garda' written on it. He said the defendant entered the home and they followed.

Garrett left a short time later and he followed and spotted her turn a corner quickly and run down some steps.

He pursued her to what he described as a container. Garrett later told the court it was a shed used by her brother.

Sergeant Conlon said when he tried to open the shed the door was being held closed by Garrett and a male.

When he told the male he was a garda and had a warrant, the male stopped holding the door and told Garrett to do the same.

Inside the shed/container, officers discovered a TK Maxx bag containing cannabis.

A smaller quantity of cannabis was discovered as further searches were carried out. The total value of the drugs found was approximately €1,000.

The male accepted responsibility for the drugs.

Giving evidence, Garrett said she did not realise Sergeant Conlon was a garda until later on at the shed/container.

She said she saw two males looking in the window of her parents house and was concerned.

The defendant said her father had tools stolen before and she had earlier seen a Facebook post about two suspicious men and a silver car. She claimed she ran to the shed out of ‘fear’.

Garrett said she could not have held the door of the shed as the handle had snapped off previously.

Judge Ciaran Liddy said he did not accept that Garrett acted out of fear.

He said she “lacked all credibility" and he was “absolutely satisfied” she had obstructed Sergeant Conlon.

Garrett has six previous convictions for minor road traffic matters.

The judge said he took a “very dim view” of her actions and adjourned sentencing until June 11.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.