Courts / Dublin / Report
Two-year sentence for man who took part in €2 million drug operation
Summary
Desmond Mulvey, aged 34, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to possession of nearly €200,000 worth of cannabis, part of a €2 million drug operation. Mulvey admitted that a €300 payment had enticed him to participate, citing a €1,700 debt from his own drug use. He had three prior convictions for minor offences. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had earlier imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition of one year of Probation Services. The operation involved three men—Mulvey, Terry O'Donoghue (50) and Michael Lawlor (40)—who were caught after Garda surveillance at the Cookstown Enterprise Unit in Tallaght. The total street value of the seized cannabis was estimated at €2 million. O'Donoghue and Lawlor received ten‑year and seven‑year sentences respectively, with the final year suspended on each. The court noted that the men were exploited by others to play an essential role in the drugs operation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Two-year sentence for man who took part in €2 million drug operation. Charges or matters: possession of just under €200,000 worth of cannabis at a slip road on the M50 on February 27, 2013; possessing €2 million of cannabis herb at a slip road off the N7, a lane at Castlewarden, Co; possessing just over €600,000 of cannabis herb at the lane at Castlewarden, Co. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 27, 2013 Incident
- February 27 Incident
- February 28, 2013 Incident
- 2014-11-13 Publication
Why: Desmond Mulvey (34) told gardai he became involved in the crime because he had built up a €1,700 debt from his own drug use. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of just under €200,000 worth of cannabis at a slip road on the M50 on February 27, 2013; possessing €2 million of cannabis herb at a slip road off the N7, a lane at Castlewarden, Co; possessing just over €600,000 of cannabis herb at the lane at Castlewarden, Co (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a five year sentence but suspended the last three years on condition that Mulvey engage with the Probation Services for one year.
Defendant
Charges: possessing €2 million of cannabis herb at a slip road off the N7, a lane at Castlewarden, Co; possessing just over €600,000 of cannabis herb at the lane at Castlewarden, Co (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Co Accused
Charges: possessing €2 million of cannabis herb at a slip road off the N7, a lane at Castlewarden, Co; possessing just over €600,000 of cannabis herb at the lane at Castlewarden, Co (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: In April Judge Ring sentenced O'Donoghue, to ten years imprisonment.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Old Court Road
Topics
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