Courts / Dublin / Report

Former Revenue worker caught with €104k in cannabis after racking up cocaine debt

Summary

Paul Farrell, 37, a former Revenue worker, was arrested after Gardaí searched his home on 7 July and seized vacuum‑sealed cannabis worth €104,572, along with scales and bagging material. He admitted owning the drugs, claiming he held them to pay a €6,000 cocaine debt that had cost him up to €200 a week and led to his job loss. Farrell pleaded guilty, stating he was not a major player and had been forced into the trade. He has 19 minor convictions, all traffic offences, and has no criminal background. The court heard character references describing him as a caring volunteer coach at Crumlin Boxing Club and a dedicated family man. He expressed remorse, citing a relative's death as a turning point, and the judge ordered him to undergo regular urine analysis until the case is finalized on 5 March.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former Revenue worker caught with €104k in cannabis after racking up cocaine debt. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• July 7 Incident
• March 5 Adjournment
• 2023-11-22 Publication

Why: Farrell took full responsibility for ownership of the drugs and told gardaí en route to the garda station that he was holding the cannabis because of his own drug debt of €6,000. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report