Man and woman involved in large drug haul jailed

Isabel Hayes

A man who was caught with over €700,000 worth of drugs as well as €30,000 in cash that was the proceeds of crime has been jailed for eight years.

Killian McCabe (27) of Woodlands Park, Arklow, Co Wicklow, was caught by gardaí with €718,240 worth of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin in two vans in Knocklyon, Dublin, on November 20th, 2022.

His co-accused, Charlene Murphy (33), was found with €87,240 worth of cannabis resin in her car shortly after McCabe handed over the drugs to her that evening, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Monday.

A further €4480 worth of cocaine was found in her home at St Jarlath's Road, Cabra, Dublin after gardaí searched it.

Murphy pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and was jailed for two years.

Detective Garda Ivor Scully told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that gardaí were tipped off to a drug exchange taking place at Woodlawn Lane in Knocklyon on the evening in question.

Murphy and McCabe were observed and arrested a short time later. A large quantity of drugs were found in a secret compartment in McCabe's van, while more drugs were found in a second van parked nearby.

A total of €30,800 cash was also seized by gardaí. McCabe pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and the proceeds of crime. He has 43 previous convictions.

Mark Lynam SC, defending him, said McCabe has an intellectual disability and attended a special school as a child. He started using drugs from a young age and developed an addiction. At the time of the offence, he had a drug debt and was transporting the drugs in order to help pay it off.

McCabe is currently serving a sentence for arson, which is due to expire in April 2026.

Glenn Lynch BL, defending Murphy, said she is a single mother of a teenage child, and she spent three years in emergency accommodation after becoming homeless., where she started to abuse drugs. Her parents were in court to support her.

She has 25 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences. She has a good work history and has suffered with mental health issues since her arrest. She is now drug-free.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Martin Nolan accepted that McCabe was not a high ranking person in terms of the drugs operation and that he was a holder or transporter. He sentenced him to eight years in prison, starting from today's date.

Judge Nolan accepted Murphy was attempting to pay off a €17,000 drug debt at the time of the offence, but he said she had carried out the crime when she was a mature person who should have known better. He jailed her for two years.