Courts / Leitrim / Report

Drug dealer told mother that he would get 'junkies' to rape her son over €157k debt

Date
2026-05-11

Stage
Sentence

County
Leitrim

Summary

At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on May 11th, 2026, a 33-year-old man from West Dublin pleaded guilty to drug possession, money laundering and making threats to kill. Mark Salmon has admitted possessing cocaine valued at €35,280 near Carrick-on-Shannon in March 2024 and acquiring criminal proceeds totalling approximately €84,000 across 2022 and 2023. The court heard evidence that Salmon intimidated two families over alleged drug debts, threatening one mother that he would have her son raped by "junkies" and shot. He also threatened to drive over the young man and put a bullet in his head. A second victim suffered financial loss and psychological harm after her son fled to England fearing for his safety. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, adjourned sentencing to June 15th. Defence counsel argued for leniency based on guilty pleas and expressions of remorse.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drug dealer told mother that he would get 'junkies' to rape her son over €157k debt. Charges or matters: possessing cash and other goods that were the proceeds of crime, possession of cocaine to a value of €35,280 and various threats to kill people or damage their property; engaging in acquiring and/or possessing property which was the proceeds of criminal conduct to the value of €24,257.44 between January 01, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and property which was the proceeds of criminal conduct to the value of €60,565.41 between 1 January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 while knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct; a charge of possessing Cocaine worth in excess of €13,000 for the purpose of unlawfully selling or otherwise supplying the drugs to another on 26 March, 2024 at or near Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim; tra

When:

March 26, 2024 Incident
December 2023 Incident
January 2024 Other
June 15 Incident
January 01, 2022 Incident
December 31, 2022 Incident
1 January Incident
December 31, 2023 Other
January 1, 2024 Incident
20 May Incident
26 March Incident
2022 and 2023 Other
2026-05-11 Publication

Case subjects

Mark Salmon

Defendant

Charges: possessing cash and other goods that were the proceeds of crime, possession of cocaine to a value of €35,280 and various threats to kill people or damage their property; engaging in acquiring and/or possessing property which was the proceeds of criminal conduct to the value of €24,257.44 between January 01, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and property which was the proceeds of criminal conduct to the value of €60,565.41 between 1 January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 while knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct; a charge of possessing Cocaine worth in excess of €13,000 for the purpose of unlawfully selling or otherwise supplying the drugs to another on 26 March, 2024 at or near Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim; transporting the drugs that were seized at Carrick on Shannon, Co Letirim, threats made to the girlfriend of the person transporting the drugs and criminal damage of his parents' home in Dublin 13 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice McGrath, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Fiona Lydon, will pass sentence on June 15.