A Circuit Court judge has refused to remand on bail a woman who facilitated a drugs gang, although he noted there are currently 53 mattresses on the floor of Castlerea Prison.
Judge Brian O’Callaghan said the defendant, Tamara Olaye (24) has had “poor” compliance with bail conditions in the past.
“This court is aware that there are 53 mattresses on the floor of Castlerea Prison today,” he said. “However, this court does have an obligation to the public.”
He noted that Olaye was facilitating a criminal organisation involved in drug dealing.
Olaye, of Fearann Rí, Doughiska, Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to money laundering offences at a location in the State on dates between 2022 and 2024.
Detective Garda David O’Connell told Geri Sike BL, prosecuting, that gardai received confidential information that a high amount of cash was lodged into Olaye’s bank account. Gardai obtained warrants and gained access to her bank, Revolut and Credit Union accounts.
The court heard that Olaye had transferred over €20,000 from her Revolut account to a third party who is of interest to the gardai.
During her gardai interview, Olaye said she was a beautician who worked on eyebrows, lashes and hair, and that was where the money in her accounts came from. She was also employed as a supervisor in a fast-food restaurant.
Det Gda O’Connell agreed with prosecuting counsel that the money found in Olaye’s accounts was linked to organised crime. The court heard that Olaye has one previous conviction but has other matters pending before the court and has come to garda attention in recent times.
Regarding her previous bail condition, the court heard that she failed to sign on 41 times and was not residing at her address on eight occasions when gardai called.
Det O’Connell said he spoke to Olaye about her bail conditions and noted that she was “very relaxed” about them.
Det Gda O’Connell agreed with Brendan Bourke BL, defending, that Olaye was 21 about to turn 22 when this offending took place. He also agreed that she entered an early guilty plea and is not a person with assets.
When it was put to the garda that Olaye’s involvement was on the lower level, he disagreed, saying: “I would probably put her higher than a money mule.”
Mr Bourke asked the court to consider a Probation Report, to which the judge agreed. He remanded Olaye into custody until July 23.