Woman loses appeal in bullets case

A woman has lost her appeal against her conviction for having pistol ammunition in her handbag in her home.

Caroline Van Dongeren (32), a mother of three with an address at Foxlodge Woods, Ratoath, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last March of having two magazines containing 20 bullets on June 24st, 2006, in her handbag at her home.

The ammunition was found by gardaí following a search of her home resulting in the seizure of some €5.7m worth of heroin. Van Dongeren was jailed for three years for the ammunition offence, but the judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on account of her three young children.

In separate proceedings, Van Dongeren’s partner Alan Coffey, from the same address, was jailed for 15 years last November for possession on the same date of heroin valued at €5.75m. Mr Coffey also admitted unlawful possession of the pistol and the ammunition.

The three judge CCA dismissed Van Dongeren’s appeal against her conviction.

Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan said the CCA was satisfied the trial judge “had acted properly” in allowing the charge against Van Dongeren go before the jury.

While it was accepted Van Dongeren’s partner Alan Coffey had admitted possessing the ammunition, more than one person can have possession of an item, the judge said.