Courts / Dublin / Report
Pair jailed for running global darknet drugs operation
Summary
Neil Mannion (34) and Richard O'Connor (34) were jailed for running an online global drug‑dealing operation. They were charged with possession of LSD, amphetamine and cannabis resin worth €143,000 after a Garda raid on a business premises in south Dublin in October 2014. Mannion, described by Judge Martin Nolan as "the brains of the operation", owned, sold and sourced the drugs, while O'Connor acted under Mannion's instructions for a weekly wage. Mannion received a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence; O'Connor received three years. The court noted the operation used the "darknet" to sell drugs to customers in countries such as Japan, Argentina, the Czech Republic and the USA, and that the defendants had no prior convictions. The case highlighted the use of bitcoin and darknet sites like Silk Road and Agora for international drug distribution. The defendants were found to have cooperated with the investigation. Neil Mannion pleaded guilty. Richard O'Connor pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pair jailed for running global darknet drugs operation. Charges or matters: possession of LSD, amphetamine and cannabis resin with intent to sell or supply at Bank House Business Centre, South Circular Road on November 5 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 2014 Incident
- November 5 2014 Incident
- 2015-12-21 Publication
Why: Judge Nolan said it was an unusual case because the drugs were sold online using the "deep net (sic)" to countries around the world. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: possession of LSD, amphetamine and cannabis resin with intent to sell or supply at Bank House Business Centre, South Circular Road on November 5 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a three year sentence on O'Connor who he said was acting under Mannion's instructions in return for a weekly wage.
Accused
Charges: possession of LSD, amphetamine and cannabis resin with intent to sell or supply at Bank House Business Centre, South Circular Road on November 5 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a three year sentence on O'Connor who he said was acting under Mannion's instructions in return for a weekly wage.
Places mentioned
- Mount Drummond Avenue
- Dublin
- Clonskeagh Road
- Bank House
- South Circular Road
- Silk Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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