Courts / Offaly / Report

Cattle farmer appeals conviction for importing cannabis

Date
2025-06-19

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Moneygall

County
Offaly

Summary

A cattle farmer, Martin Murray, 59, was convicted of importing €730,000 worth of cannabis and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing that his solicitor had not understood the significance of hearsay evidence presented to the jury. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC contended that confidential information, including details of Garda confirmation that drugs would be found in the truck and Murray's identity as the target, was improperly introduced without warning to the jury. He claimed the trial judge should have clarified that this was hearsay. State counsel Kevin White BL defended the prosecution's use of the evidence, stating that the solicitor had consented to its presentation. The court adjourned the matter to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to address the factual issues, with a further hearing scheduled for July 14. Martin Murray pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cattle farmer appeals conviction for importing cannabis. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

June 30, 2017 Incident
December 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
July 14 Hearing Or Sentence
2025-06-19 Publication

Why: "I showed him the various portions of the statements, and I was given permission to run that," said Mr White, adding that the prosecution case had been opened in that manner because there had been an agreement that the evidence could be led in such a way. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Martin Murray

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: In December 2023, Murray was sentenced by Judge Keenan Johnson to ten years in prison, with the final two years suspended.; Mr White requested time to consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the matter adjourned to later in the day.