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Michaella McCollum: Drugs smuggler speaks about 'moment of madness' | Michaella McCollum: Drugs smuggler speaks about 'moment of madness' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman from County Tyrone jailed for drug smuggling in Peru has said her decision was made in a "moment of madness". | |
Michaella McCollum was freed on parole in Peru this week after serving more than two years in prison there. | |
She said if the cocaine had got back to Europe, she could have "had a lot of blood on my hands". | She said if the cocaine had got back to Europe, she could have "had a lot of blood on my hands". |
"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." |
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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | 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 effectively released on parole on Thursday night and her solicitor is waiting to hear the terms of her release. | |
It is anticipated she will have to remain in the South American country for a considerable period as part of her parole conditions. | |
Ms McCollum was freed under new legislation on early prison release introduced in Peru last year. | Ms McCollum was freed under new legislation on early prison release introduced in Peru last year. |
She had served two years and three months. | She had served two years and three months. |
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. |
She has been seeking to serve the remainder of her sentence closer to home in Scotland. | She has been seeking to serve the remainder of her sentence closer to home in Scotland. |
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. |
But it says any transfer would ultimately be for the Peruvian prison service to determine. | But it says any transfer would ultimately be for the Peruvian prison service to determine. |
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. |