Courts / Dublin / Report

"Mid-level" dealer caught with €160k in drugs after garda operation

Date
2017-12-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Darren Ward, 35, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 525 g of heroin worth €73,626, 881 g of cocaine worth €61,000, and 244 g of cannabis worth €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square on 10 July 2015. Additional cocaine worth €10,600 was found in his Honda Accord and €8,000 was found on a male who had been observed in a transaction with Ward. Garda surveillance followed Ward from Deerpark Square to Walkinstown Green, where a male was stopped with €8,000 of cocaine. Ward's vehicle contained €1,100 cash, a weighing scale, and concealed compartments holding the drugs. Ward has 24 prior convictions, including drug‑related offences, and claimed a large drug debt and a threat on his life. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ward's mid‑level role in the network, imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, describing it as reasonably severe given his serious involvement.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Mid-level" dealer caught with €160k in drugs after garda operation. Charges or matters: possessing 525g of heroin worth €73,626; 881g of cocaine valued at €61,000; and 244g of cannabis at €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square, Kiltipper, Tallaght on July 10, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 10, 2015 Incident
2017-12-05 Publication

Case subjects

Darren Ward

Defendant

Charges: possessing 525g of heroin worth €73,626; 881g of cocaine valued at €61,000; and 244g of cannabis at €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square, Kiltipper, Tallaght on July 10, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan noted Ward's previous conviction for a drugs offence and said he had to impose a "reasonably severe" custodial sentence due to his serious involvement in the drugs operation.