Courts / Dublin / Report
Drugs bust after banned drive ran red light
Summary
Father‑of‑three Darren Caffrey, 37, was stopped by Gardaí after driving a horsebox van through a red light on Ushers Quay. While searching the van, officers found Zopiclone tablets and €27,314 of cocaine. A later search of another car at his Ballyfermot address uncovered more Zopiclone tablets and €39,284 of heroin. Caffrey pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, cocaine and Zopiclone tablets for sale or supply at Ushers Quay and Oliver Bond Flats on 14 and 15 May 2020. He has 207 previous convictions, including assault, handling stolen property, possession of a mobile phone in prison and 175 road traffic offences, but no prior drug convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The total value of drugs seized was €76,594. The case highlighted Caffrey's active involvement in drug supply rather than merely acting as a courier.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drugs bust after banned drive ran red light. Charges or matters: possession of heroin, cocaine and Zopiclone tablets for sale or supply at Ushers Quay and Oliver Bond Flats, Dublin City centre, on May 14 and 15, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 14 Incident
- 2021-07-01 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of heroin, cocaine and Zopiclone tablets for sale or supply at Ushers Quay and Oliver Bond Flats, Dublin City centre, on May 14 and 15, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Gda O'Neil said he asked why Caffrey was driving, as he knew him to be disqualified at the time, and the accused said he was only going to park the van in the nearby Oliver Bond flats and asked gardaí not to seize the van. Judge Greally sentenced Caffrey to six-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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