Courts / Dublin / Report

Seatbelt stop resulted in €160,000 drug haul

Date
2025-04-11

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Deering, aged 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 25 September 2021 at several sites in Lucan. The case began when Gardai stopped his car for a seatbelt offence, discovered a backpack containing 100 g of cannabis and €3,900 in cash, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his home. A search of his residence uncovered drugs valued at over €159,000 and an additional €4,000 in cash, bringing the total value of seized drugs to €161,690. Deering had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Deering's early guilty plea, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, departing from the mandatory minimum of ten years. The court noted that Deering was not on the Garda radar and that his home showed no signs of wealth.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Seatbelt stop resulted in €160,000 drug haul. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply on September 25, 2021, at various locations in Lucan. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

September 25, 2021 Incident
2025-04-11 Publication

Why: By Claire Henry Gardai stopped a man because he was not wearing a seatbelt and found €160,000 worth of drugs in his car and his home, a court heard today. Court evidence reported by CNI