Judge John Hughes imposed a 1km exclusion zone around all Irish prisons on a woman arrested for dealing cannabis at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison.[1] Ann O’Rourke, 46, appeared before Judge Hughes at Dublin District Court on Saturday 11 July 2026.[1] The court heard she made no reply when charged with possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at the prison the previous day, Friday 10 July.[1] She has not entered a plea, and the value of the alleged cannabis seizure was not stated in court.[1]
Garda Rachel Smith initially objected to bail, then agreed to it with strict conditions.[1] O’Rourke was unrepresented because solicitors have withdrawn from District Court legal aid cases in an industrial dispute over the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan’s plan for a €520 flat fee for District Court cases.[1] The 1km restriction applies unless the court sanctions an application allowing her to visit someone in prison custody, and she must also sign on once a week at her local garda station and provide a contact phone number for gardaí.[1] Asked whether she consented to the terms, O’Rourke replied: “I do.”[1] The unemployed woman told the court she had recently had difficulty attending court because of a sick relative.[1]
She was remanded on bail to appear again on 4 September.[1] RTÉ’s separate account of the same sitting reported the same 1km prison exclusion zone and the same list of bail conditions.[2]