Courts / Dublin / Report

Dad-of-four jailed for storing almost €100k of cocaine to pay drug debt

Date
2026-02-19
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

A 40-year-old father of four has been jailed for four years for storing almost €100,000 worth of cocaine in his home and shed. Paul Dardis was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home on November 18, 2022. Garda Michael Leahy told the court that gardai carried out a planned search of Dardis's home that day and found a total of €99,169 worth of cocaine at various locations, including his kitchen and bedroom. Most of it was seized from a garden shed, along with mixing agents and €64 worth of heroin. Weighing scales were also found. Dardis later took full responsibility for all drugs found in his home. He said he was storing the cocaine in exchange for a reduction in his own personal drug debt. Gda Leahy agreed with Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, defending, that both Dardis and his partner had mental health difficulties. He said that Dardis showed no signs of wealth and had not come to garda attention since.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad-of-four jailed for storing almost €100k of cocaine to pay drug debt. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Counsel explained that his client had been a hardworking man, who had worked two jobs, but that his addiction to cocaine had escalated after his father died seven or eight years ago. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request