Sally Louise MacNeill: Gold Coast nurse busted dealing cocaine

A Gold Coast nurse and mother of three’s sudden spiral from law-abiding citizen to drug dealer has been aired in court. Read full details here.

Sally Louise MacNeill leaving Southport courthouse.

A Gold Coast nurse and mother of three’s spiral from law-abiding citizen to cocaine dealer has been aired in court.

Police raided Sally Louise MacNeill’s Robina home on December 8, 2021.

Southport District Court was told officers found small amounts of cocaine, 2g of marijuana, a Valium tablet and a set of scales stashed in MacNeill’s kitchen and bedroom.

Crown prosecutor Kelli Lemass said a further search of the 41-year-old’s phone revealed she had supplied or arranged to sell cocaine three times in the months leading up to the raid.

It was heard MacNeill sold 3g for $1050, 7g for an unknown amount, and offered to supply another 0.5g through an encrypted messaging app.

Sally Louise MacNeill leaving Southport courthouse.

The court was told the nurse of 15 years and educator had no criminal history and had not reoffended since being charged.

Defence barrister Carmen De Marco said MacNeill was introduced to cocaine by an abusive partner, who she met after leaving a previous unsafe relationship.

The qualified hairdresser was seeking treatment for ongoing mental health concerns and had since stopped using substances, the court was told.

Judge David Kent said MacNeill had taken positive steps towards rehabilitation, helping to balance the seriousness of dealing “significant street-level amounts” of cocaine.

“Illegal drugs – including cocaine – do an enormous amount of damage in the community, as you’re probably well aware given your experience in nursing,” Judge Kent said.

“It is concerning that it appears, on the messages, you had the capacity at least to some extent to supply on demand.”

MacNeill pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs, two each of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing items used in the commission of a crime, and one of possessing unauthorised medicines.

She was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, wholly suspended for two years. She was also placed on probation for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded for only two supply offences.