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Former minor hurler went on the run after €2.7m drug bust
Summary
Patrick Casey, 35, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an appeal-stage hearing regarding drug offences. The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at Marigold Ave, Darndale, and Tonlegee Road, Raheny, on March 7, 2014. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí seized just over €700,000 worth of drugs from his car and just under €2 million from his home during a 2014 operation in the Coolock area. Casey had previously evaded arrest after a high-speed chase and fled to the UK, where he rehabilitated himself before returning to Ireland in 2020. He was arrested in July 2021 and has remained in custody since. Judge Martin Nolan noted Casey's prior convictions, including a 2007 drugs-related offence for which he was initially jailed for eight years, a sentence later reduced by the Court of Appeal to five years with the final two years suspended. While acknowledging Casey's efforts to reform and his sporting background as a former Dublin minor hurler, the judge emphasized the scale of the drug distribution. The court handed down the nine-year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the admitted charges and his criminal history.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former minor hurler went on the run after €2.7m drug bust. Charges or matters: possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Marigold Ave, Darndale and Tonlegee Road, Raheny on March 7, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 7, 2014 Incident
- July 2021 Incident
- 2022-07-22 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Marigold Ave, Darndale and Tonlegee Road, Raheny on March 7, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sgt Muldowney told the sentence hearing that in 2014, gardaí were carrying out a drugs operation in the Coolock area and Casey was put under surveillance. He was jailed for eight years in 2007 for a drugs-related offence, although this was later reduced by the Court of Appeal to five years with the final two years suspended, the court heard.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Distillery Road
- Dublin
- Tonlegee Road
Topics
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