Courts / Offaly / Report

Cannabis smuggler says jury misled by suggestion he was target of garda operation

Date
2026-01-21

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Moneygall

County
Offaly

Summary

Michael Murray, a 60-year-old cattle farmer from Moneygall, County Offaly, is appealing his conviction for importing €730,000 worth of cannabis. In 2023, a jury at Tullamore Circuit Court found him guilty of importing a controlled drug in excess of €13,000 and having drugs for sale or supply, rejecting his not guilty plea. He was sentenced by Judge Keenan Johnson to ten years in prison, with the final two years suspended. The appeal before the Court of Appeal centers on whether the jury was misled by prosecution evidence suggesting Murray was the specific target of a garda operation. Defence counsel argued that the solicitor failed to recognize the prejudicial nature of this evidence, which was introduced during the trial. State counsel countered that the defence solicitor explicitly agreed to the introduction of this material. The court noted that no requisition was made to the trial judge to object to the evidence, implying an agreement. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved judgment, and the matter was adjourned.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cannabis smuggler says jury misled by suggestion he was target of garda operation. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

June 30, 2017 Incident
December 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
2026-01-21 Publication

Why: "Just because we have that system, doesn't mean we have pure equality," said Mr Berry, adding that "baked into our system is a huge information asymmetry". CNI source report

Case subjects

Michael Murray

Appellant

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.; The matter was then adjourned in June.