Courts / Dublin / Report
Grandad used DHL job as cover to run drugs
Summary
Luke Kelly, 54, of Griffith Parade, Glasnevin, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 4 August 2023. Garda Gary Duke explained that police had received confidential information that some DHL employees were using the company as a cover to deliver drugs. A search warrant was executed at Kelly's home after he was stopped driving a yellow DHL‑branded van. Officers found six kilograms of cannabis in the van and an additional kilogram in the passenger seat, all wrapped in DHL packaging. Kelly led officers to a shed at his mother's house where they discovered 30.5 kilograms of cannabis and 11.04 kilograms of cocaine, valued at €1.38 million. He had no prior convictions. The court noted his long marriage, children, grandchildren and lifelong employment, and that he had been under significant stress and substance misuse at the time.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grandad used DHL job as cover to run drugs. Charges or matters: possession of the drugs for sale or supply on August 4, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 4, 2023 Incident
- 2025-03-31 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of the drugs for sale or supply on August 4, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said that he assumed Kelly had become involved by reason of his own addiction and accepted that going into prison for the first time at his age would be difficult. "It's a shocking situation for him," the judge said. "He made a very bad misjudgement and is going to have to pay the price." He sentenced him to five years in prison.
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