Courts / Dublin / Report

Mid-to-high level member of large scale drugs operation is jailed

Summary

Patrick Bell, aged 55, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for unlawful possession of heroin for sale or supply. Bell, a mid‑to‑high level member of a large‑scale drug operation, was arrested in September 2019 after Garda surveillance uncovered heroin, cutting agents and large amounts of empty kilo packaging at a garage in Thomas Court Bawn, Dublin 8. The operation had been rented since 2010 under a false name linked to Bell, and phones seized from his home indicated he was involved in supplying drugs under direction from unknown people. Bell pleaded guilty and had only a few minor traffic convictions. The judge noted Bell's role was integral but not at the top of the operation, and accepted his guilty plea as a mitigating factor, allowing a departure from the mandatory ten‑year sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mid-to-high level member of large scale drugs operation is jailed. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of heroin for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 2019 Incident
• September 24, 2019 Incident
• 2022-07-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report