Courts / Dublin / Report
Air-con engineer now con after €575k drugs bust
Summary
Dylan Pennie, a 34-year-old air conditioning engineer from Clonshaugh, Coolock, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug-related offences. He pleaded guilty to the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at his parents' address on May 5, 2024, and to laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion. Gardaí discovered the drugs, which included cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and benzodiazepine, primarily in the eaves of a converted attic, along with the cash. Pennie admitted he was holding the items to settle a €4,000 drug debt under pressure. Defence counsel Paul Murray SC highlighted Pennie's lack of prior convictions, his remorse, and his engagement with rehabilitation, requesting a departure from the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Martina Baxter acknowledged the request for a fully suspended sentence but stated that consequences were necessary. However, she accepted that exceptional circumstances allowed her to depart from the standard minimum. She imposed a sentence of four years, suspending the final two years on specific conditions. Pennie is therefore required to serve two years of effective custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Air-con engineer now con after €575k drugs bust. Charges or matters: the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at that address on May 5, 2024; laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 5, 2024 Incident
- 2025-05-15 Publication
Why: An air conditioning engineer has been jailed for two years for holding half a million-euro worth of drugs in his parents' house while they were away in order to pay off a €4,000 drug debt. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at that address on May 5, 2024; laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martina Baxter said she accepted she was being asked to impose a fully suspended sentence, but said that only in very rare cases could this happen. "There has to be consequences," she said. She imposed a sentence of four years, and suspended the final two years on a number of conditions.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Newbury Avenue
- of Coolock Garda Station
- and taken to the garda station
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request