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Michaella McCollum: Drugs smuggler speaks about 'moment of madness' Michaella McCollum: Drugs smuggler speaks about 'moment of madness'
(about 1 hour later)
A woman from County Tyrone arrested and jailed for drugs smuggling in Peru has said her decision was made in a "moment of madness".A woman from County Tyrone arrested and jailed for drugs smuggling in Peru has said her decision was made in a "moment of madness".
Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, was freed on parole earlier this week after serving more than two years in prison in South America. Michaella McCollum was freed on parole this week after serving more than two years in prison in South America.
In an interview with RTÉ, she speaks about her time in prison. She said if the cocaine had got back to Europe, she could have "had a lot of blood on my hands".
She said she was not a bad person and wanted to demonstrate she was a good person.
Speaking about her release, she said she had "forgotten the things that everybody takes for granted".
"Seeing the sun, seeing the darkness, seeing the moon and the stars, things I haven't seen in almost three years," she told the programme.
During the interview, the Dungannon woman also speaks about her arrest and recent release.
Talking about the consequences of her actions, she said: "If the drugs had of got back [to Europe] what could have happened, I probably would have had a lot of blood on my hands."
"I potentially could have filled Europe full of a lot of drugs
"I could have potentially killed a lot of people, not directly but I could have caused a lot of harm to people.""I could have potentially killed a lot of people, not directly but I could have caused a lot of harm to people."
McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, from Scotland, were caught with 11kg (24lb) of cocaine in August 2013. Ms McCollum, from Dungannon, told Irish state broadcaster RTÉ that she was not a bad person and wanted to demonstrate she was a good person.
She said she had "forgotten the things that everybody takes for granted".
"Seeing the sun, seeing the darkness, seeing the moon and the stars, things I haven't seen in almost three years," she told the programme.
Ms McCollum and Melissa Reid, from Scotland, were caught with 11kg (24lb) of cocaine in August 2013.
They were searched at Lima's international airport and cocaine was found hidden inside packages of food.They were searched at Lima's international airport and cocaine was found hidden inside packages of food.
The women initially claimed they had been kidnapped and forced to carry drugs, but later admitted the charges.The women initially claimed they had been kidnapped and forced to carry drugs, but later admitted the charges.
The pair admitted trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m from Peru to Spain and were jailed for six years and eight months.The pair admitted trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m from Peru to Spain and were jailed for six years and eight months.
Ms McCollum was released effectively on parole on Thursday night and her solicitor is waiting to hear the terms of her release.Ms McCollum was released effectively on parole on Thursday night and her solicitor is waiting to hear the terms of her release.
Melissa Reid from Lenzie, near Glasgow, who was also convicted for trying to smuggle cocaine, remains in prison in Peru.Melissa Reid from Lenzie, near Glasgow, who was also convicted for trying to smuggle cocaine, remains in prison in Peru.
A transfer request for her was approved by the Scottish Prison Service in January 2015.A transfer request for her was approved by the Scottish Prison Service in January 2015.
Michaella McCollum's interview will be shown on RTÉ One at 21:30 BST on Sunday.Michaella McCollum's interview will be shown on RTÉ One at 21:30 BST on Sunday.