Courts / Dublin / Report

Routine garda checkpoint caused drug handler to 'panic'

Summary

A van driver, Colin Radburn, 37, was jailed for four and a half years after a routine Garda checkpoint on St Luke's Road, Dublin 8, revealed €350,000 worth of cocaine and £15,520 in cash hidden in the van's air filter cabinet. Radburn, who had been driving the van at the time, panicked and attempted to abandon it when Gardaí stopped him. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court noted his prior convictions for road traffic offences and that he had been out of work since an injury in 2022, which contributed to a drug habit. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Radburn's role was that of transporter and holder, and set the sentence at four and a half years, backdated to his arrest.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Routine garda checkpoint caused drug handler to 'panic'. Charges or matters: one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply on February 11 this year under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 11 Incident
• 2025-11-11 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report