Over 5,400 people convicted of drug offences in court in 2025-MEP

Kenneth Fox

There were 5,440 people convicted in the District Court system in 2025 on drug offences

The total convictions for drug offences in our District Court system rose from 5,202 in 2024 to 5,440 in 2025 — a 5 per cent increase nationwide.

Irish MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú argues the figures are only the tip of the iceberg, warning they point to a broader rise in drug use in Ireland that must be confronted head-on.

Whilst district court drug convictions in many Irish towns have remained relatively stable or declined, some towns and counties in Ireland have recorded significant rises in the number of people convicted in the district court system on drug offences.

Dublin topped the table of drug offence convictions, with 2,071 people convicted of drug offences in the capital in 2025 - up 11 per cent on 2024.

Cork was in second place with 504 convictions for drug offences in 2025, but down 7 per cent on 2024.

Clonmel district court office recorded the next highest number of people convicted for drug offences in 2025 at 281, a 27 per cent increase on 2024.

Portlaoise district court office came in fourth place at 248 people, a 95 per cent increase on 2024, followed by Limerick, Mallow, Tullamore, Tralee, Waterford and Galway all making the top ten of district court offices recording the largest number of people convicted for drug offences in our District Courts in 2025.

Drug convictions in our District Courts are well above pre-pandemic levels (2019), with 2021 recording the highest number of drug offence convictions.

While most counties or District Court offices recorded falls in the number of persons convicted on drugs offences between 2024 and 2025, some District Court areas recorded massive jumps.

That included Tullamore (+180 per cent), Roscommon (+100 per cent), Portlaoise (+95 per cent), Clonmel (+27 per cent), Mallow (+27 per cent) and Waterford (+17 per cent).

Clonakilty recorded the biggest fall in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025, falling by 50%. Dundalk, Ballina, Carlow and Letterkenny also recorded significant falls in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025.

Other notable trends in the figures include a sharp decline in the number of drug convictions in West Cork (Clonakilty district court office)  but a surge in drug convictions in the Midlands (Tullamore District Court office +180 per cent) Portlaoise (+95 per cent), and Longford (+24 per cent).