Bail granted for teenager accused of smuggling nearly £1m worth of cannabis
An alleged teenage drug mule accused of smuggling nearly £1m worth of cannabis from Thailand into Northern Ireland is to be released from custody, a High Court judge ruled today.
Stella Doyle-Daly, from Hanover Street in Dublin, was granted bail to live at an undisclosed location in England.
Mr Justice Scoffield said: “It will remove her from the proximity of some of those who may be involved in this operation.”
The 18-year-old was detained after National Crime Agency officers seized the haul at Belfast City Airport on September 24.
She had arrived with two suitcases containing nearly 48 kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of £956,000.
Disinfectant is believed to have been sprayed inside the luggage in an attempt to mask the smell of the illicit contents, the court heard.
Doyle-Daly, who faces charges of importing and possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, denies packing the cases.
She told officers that she travelled to Thailand earlier in the month to visit a female friend who teaches English in Bangkok.
But after meeting an unnamed man known to her from Dublin she stayed at his villa, according to her account.
He bought one of the suitcases used to smuggle the cannabis and asked her to take it when she flew home.
Doyle-Daly claimed the man told her the already packed luggage contained counterfeit fake designer clothing and shoes which were to be presents for members of his family.
He then allegedly booked her onto an earlier flight and gave her money to cover the taxi fare to the airport and excess baggage fees, investigators were told.
She flew out of Bangkok, travelling via Doha and Heathrow, London, before arriving in Belfast.
Doyle-Daly rejected NCA assertions that she had knowingly transported the cannabis, but indicated she was too afraid to provide investigators with her mobile phone passcode.
Defence representatives argued she had been duped and used as an unwitting drug mule.
Barrister Sean Devine described her as a vulnerable teenager whose alleged failure to cooperate with the investigation was due to fear of the potentially “catastrophic” consequences.
But the prosecution contended she had been a trusted drug courier transporting cannabis over three international borders.
Granting bail to Doyle-Daly, Mr Justice Scoffield based his decision on her age, vulnerabilities and lack of criminal record.
He ordered the teenager to live under curfew at the home of a family friend, surrender any passports and banned her from leaving the United Kingdom.
The judge told her: “I’m giving you a chance, I know it’s less than ideal that you’re going to England… but I urge you to keep your head down and stay out of trouble.”