Courts / Dublin / Report

'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash

Summary

Clinton Byrne, aged 44, was jailed for three and a half years after Garda surveillance uncovered €90,220 in criminal cash in a taxi at Fortunestown. The operation, triggered by confidential information, revealed Byrne transporting the money for a criminal organisation. Byrne had previously been convicted in April 2023 for moving €280,000 of heroin, receiving a four and a half year sentence with the final six months suspended. He was out on temporary release when the cash offence occurred. Byrne pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the cash and wrote a letter to Judge Dara Hayes claiming he was coerced and that the job involved only a small amount of money unrelated to drugs. The judge noted the offence was aggravated by his temporary release status and suspended the final year of his earlier sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for a year after release.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of €90,220 in criminal proceeds. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 23, 2025 Incident
• April 2023 Other
• April 25, 2025 Other
• 2026-07-30 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report