Latest news with #MisuseofDrugsAct
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man (20) allegedly wore bulletproof vest with loaded gun inside when gardaí stopped him
Craig McKeever (20) is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Gun seized by gardai in Dublin last night. Photo: An Garda Síochána Facebook A young man was wearing a bullet proof vest with a loaded handgun hidden inside when gardai stopped and searched him on a Dublin street, it is alleged. Craig McKeever (20) was arrested when the gun fell onto the ground in front of gardai, who fear it was related to an ongoing 'violent feud" in the city. He was refused bail when he appeared in Dublin District Court this evening charged over the gun seizure in the south of the city on Wednesday. Mr McKeever, from Dromard Road, Drimnagh is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Garda Niall White told Judge Susan Fay the accused was detained under the Offences Against the State Act at Kilmainham Garda station before being charged at 5.25pm yesterday. Gun seized by gardai in Dublin last night. Photo: An Garda Síochána Facebook News in 90 Seconds - June 26th He made no reply after caution. Objecting to bail, the garda said he saw the accused and another man getting into the back of a taxi at Turvey Avenue, Inchicore at 8pm on June 24. Gardai approached the cab, got a strong smell of cannabis and searched the two under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Mr McKeever was wearing a ballistic vest and when the gardai opened it, an army green coloured .22 calibre pistol fell from it onto the ground, Gda White said. While the accused was being arrested, the other man fled on foot and attempts to apprehend him were unsuccessful. In a preliminary examination, the pistol was found to be loaded with one round of ammunition. Gardai also seized the ballistic vest and €550 in cash Mr McKeever had on him. The garda said the area where the accused was stopped was a popular location for entering and exiting households and apartments and was also near a park frequented by children. He said the maximum sentence for the charge on conviction was 14 years. Gardai believed the gun seizure was related to an ongoing violent feud in the Dublin 8 area and the accused's family home had been burned out by a petrol bomb. Applying for bail, defence barrister Kevin McCrave said Mr McKeever was prepared to abide by conditions and would be under the garda 'spotlight' and 'effectively under house arrest' if released. He had always lived at his home address and family members including his father were in court to support him. The accused, who was presumed innocent, could be in custody awaiting trial for at least a year if refused bail, Mr McCrave said. The other man had been arrested, charged and bailed, he added. Judge Fay refused bail and remanded Mr McKeever in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on July 3, for DPP directions.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Three men charged after €2m worth of drugs seized from van are sent for trial
Gary Hanley (36), Sean Mackey (54) and Jie Liu (39) appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. Three men facing drug charges after gardai intercepted a van carrying €2m of suspected cannabis have been sent forward for trial. Gary Hanley (36), Sean Mackey (54) and Jie Liu (39) were served with the books of evidence when they appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. Mr Hanley, with an address at North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, Mr Mackey, a casino croupier of Blessington Street, Dublin 7 and Mr Liu, a food delivery driver formerly of Cedar Grove, Swords, were arrested on Dublin's N3 on February 22, 2024. They were charged with unlawful possession of 100 kilos of cannabis worth €2m and having the drugs for sale or supply. Sean Mackey They are also charged under Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act, where the alleged value of the drugs is greater than €13,000. Mr Liu is separately charged with possessing €1m worth of cannabis, MDMA, amphetamines and ketamine at an apartment in Westend Villas, Blanchardstown, allegedly leased by him. A State solicitor said the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who go forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave the men the formal alibi caution. Jie Liu The judge assigned defence solicitors Matthew Kenny, Darren Gray and Donal Quigley on free legal aid, as well as junior counsel and senior counsel for all three accused. The men have not yet indicated how they are pleading to the charges. They were charged after detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) intercepted a van carrying €2m of suspected cannabis. At a previous hearing, gardai alleged Mr Hanley drove to Blanchardstown and met two other vehicles. Mr Mackey was allegedly in a Toyota Corolla, and Mr Liu drove an Opel Vivaro van. After a short interaction, gardai claimed they drove to Athboy, Co Meath, where phones were exchanged. It was alleged they drove back to Dublin in a "close proximity" convoy but were intercepted on the N3 northbound. About 100 kilos of cannabis worth €2m were recovered in the van allegedly driven by Mr Liu, gardai said. The court had heard Mr Hanley's car was stopped a short distance away, and he allegedly locked the doors as gardai approached and began to "smash" a phone. It was alleged an additional €1m worth of various drugs was found following a search at the apartment rented by Mr Liu in Blanchardstown.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Thief called garda ‘f*****g p***k' while trying to intervene in arrest of another man
Ritvars Razma (28) of Edgeworthstown, Longford pleaded guilty to five separate incidents of theft, public order and knife possession Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. A jobless man carried out a brace of shoplifting raids before later going on to call a garda a 'f****** p****' while trying to intervene in the arrest of another man in a midlands town, a court has heard. Ritvars Razma (28) of Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford pleaded guilty to five separate incidents of theft, public order and knife possession at various locations over an 11-month period, a sitting of Longford District Court was told. Ritvars Razma (28) had 36 previous convictions to his name before going on his latest crime spree, a court has heard. Three of those involved episodes of shoplifting, two of which happened within a 24 hour period of each other on June 8 and June 9 last year when Razma stole three bottles of whiskey from the town's SuperValu store at Townparks in Longford town. The total haul of those thefts amounted to almost €75 with Razma also admitting a subsequent further theft from Tesco where the accused was caught red-handed by security personnel just outside the Longford Shopping Centre's store on April 3 this year moments after he placed another stolen bottle of whiskey inside his jacket. Sgt Enda Daly provided details of two further public order offences Razma committed along a stretch of the Longford Road in Edgeworthstown on October 31, 2024 during which he verbally abused an officer shortly after he attempted to step in as gardaí attempted to execute the arrest of another man. Judge Bernandette Owens was told as Razma was directed to leave the area, he branded a garda a 'f****** p****. That prompted Razma to be asked for his name and address, something he refused to comply with and which ultimately led to his arrest. Just seven months later, Razma again found himself in hot water, this time when gardaí spotted him acting suspiciously along Edgeworthstown's Pound Street area on May 1. When Garda Padraig Shanley carried out a search of Razma under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the court was told a multi tool knife was retrieved together with drugs paraphernalia. Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. Sgt Daly said Razma offered 'no reasonable explanation' as to why he had the knife in his possession in an incident that led to him being charged under section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. The court was told Razma had previously racked up 36 convictions, among which included offences for public order, criminal damage and arson. Sgt Daly, in outlining Razma's criminal past, also revealed how he had been subject to a peace bond and be of good behaviour for a period of ten years after a six year suspended sentence was handed down in June 2019 for the aforementioned arson charge at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court. Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. News in 90 Seconds - June 25th In defence, solicitor Bríd Mimnagh insisted the so-called paraphernalia found on her client along with the knife charge 'had nothing to do with drugs' and was more innocently connected to Razma undertaking a spot of fishing. She also implored the court to afford the unemployed Razma space and time to garner the requisite monies to cover the cost of the three shoplifting incidents. More pointedly, Ms Mimnagh said Razma was now firmly intent on getting his back on an even keel while under the watchful guidance of his close family. 'He missed a lot of courts but in the last six weeks he has been under the influence of his parents,' she said, noting how Razma's father had contacted her directly to ensure of his attendance in court. Judge Owens said while the court had been made aware of Razma's intention to plead guilty at a previous court sitting in May, in light of his 'significant previous convictions', the court was minded to direct a probation report. In remanding Razma on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on November 11, Judge Owens said the five month hiatus would also provide the necessary time for him to summon together compensation for the shops he stole from.
Sunday World
21-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man tells court he bought heroin in bulk to avoid having to steal to feed his habit
'The only way I could sustain the habit without going out stealing was to buy in bulk - it's cheaper if you can do that' A man addicted to heroin caught with nearly €1,000 worth of the drug has avoided jail after telling a judge he bought in bulk to avoid committing theft to feed his addiction. "Drugs ruined my life," the defendant, Norman Purfield (45), told Tallaght District Court. Purfield, of The Grange, Dún Laoghaire, had initially faced a charge of possession of heroin for sale or supply. However, Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the charge at Tallaght District Court after ruling it had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Purfield had pleaded guilty instead to simple possession under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard that on May 1, 2022, Mr Purfield was the front-seat passenger in a car stopped by Garda Jack Lynch on Old Bawn Road, Tallaght. The court heard that both occupants appeared nervous and two small bags of suspected heroin were seen being discarded beside the vehicle. Purfield initially refused to accompany gardaí and was arrested under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act before being brought to Tallaght Garda Station. He was found with 6.8 grams of heroin, worth an estimated €952. File image. News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd When questioned, he told gardaí the drugs were for personal use and said he had been using heavily at the time. 'I bought it in bigger packets,' he told the court. 'The only way I could sustain the habit without going out stealing was to buy in bulk - it's cheaper if you can do that.' He claimed he had paid just €300 for the heroin, despite its estimated street value of almost €1,000, and said the money came from his social welfare payments. Purfield added: 'Drugs ruined my life. I'm fighting every day. I'm on 20mls of methadone now and hoping to come off it. I could go cold turkey if I got the chance to go to treatment.' Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor said his client had a long-standing heroin addiction but was now trying to turn his life around. Judge McNamara noted that while gardaí recovered a significant quantity of heroin, there were no weighing scales, no drug paraphernalia, and no observations of Mr Purfield supplying drugs. Gardaí had also said the defendant had been fully co-operative and now accepted that the drugs were likely for personal use. 'That's still quite a lot,' the judge remarked, before convicting him of simple possession. 'But I accept your explanation and your willingness to engage with treatment.' She imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition that Purfield attend a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. The court heard that Purfield has 42 previous convictions, including three for drug-related offences. 'You'll have to sign the bond and stay out of trouble,' Judge McNamara warned. 'If you don't attend, the gardaí can bring you back in and the sentence will be imposed.' Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Major drug raid as cops swoop on Dublin business & seize cannabis herb worth €2m as two arrested in separate search
A RAID on a business premises in Dublin has resulted in the seizure of €2 million worth of cannabis herb. The search was carried out on Saturday at a business in Ballyfermot. The seized drugs will be analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels – international, national, and local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale, and supply of controlled drugs. Read more in News A spokesperson said: "As part of Operation Tara, Gardaí have seized €2m of suspected cannabis herb during the course of a search of a business premises in the Ballyfermot, "The searches were carried out by Gardaí from Ballyfermot Garda Station, Clondalkin Community Engagement Area, and Detective Gardaí from Serious Crime South. "The "Investigations are ongoing." Most read in The Irish Sun Separately, two people have been arrested in Detectives from the The search was conducted at a property in the Gorestown Road area of Dungannon under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Friday, June 20 shortly after 5.20pm. As part of the ongoing investigation two men, aged 39 and 24 years old, were arrested on suspicion of a number of drug-related offences. Both men are currently in police custody at this time. Detective Inspector Stickland said: 'The drugs, as well as a sum of money and drugs paraphernalia, have been taken away for further forensic examinations. 'Our officers will continue to protect communities from the harm of illegal drugs. "As a result of this excellent police work, a large quantity of suspected dangerous controlled drugs are now safely off our streets. 'Drugs have no place in our community and I am making a direct appeal to anyone with information about the illicit supply, possession or misuse of drugs to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via 1 The search was carried out on Saturday at a business in Ballyfermot. Credit: Alamy
