Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 30234Conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline (Defence Act 1954, Section 168) · Co. Dublin · 31 Oct 2018

Army captain pleads guilty in Dublin over cigarettes on military flight

Captain Catherine Lundon, a transport officer from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was serving with the 112th Infantry Battalion on UN peacekeeping duties in South Lebanon when she was alleged to have arranged for an unauthorised quantity of cigarettes to be placed on a military flight home from the Middle East between 31 October and 1 November 2018. She was originally due to face six charges and pleaded not guilty, but after a lengthy adjournment she was rearraigned and pleaded guilty before a summary court martial in Dublin to a single charge under Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954, while the Director of Military Prosecutions consented to nolle prosequi on the other charges. Reports of the guilty plea were published on 2 September 2021, and the court adjourned the case for sentencing until 8 October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted2 Sep
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • She arranged for an unauthorised quantity of cigarettes to be placed on a military flight home from the Middle East.
  • The cigarettes exceeded the quantity permitted under UN standing orders and were dispatched in a red suitcase.
Where
  • She is from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, and is attached to the 2nd Brigade at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines.
  • She was serving with the 112th Infantry Battalion on UN peacekeeping duties at a UN post in At Tiri, South Lebanon.
When
The cigarettes were placed on the aircraft between 31 October and 1 November 2018.
Charges
  • She was originally due to face six charges relating to the transport of a large quantity of cigarettes on a military aircraft.
  • The single charge she pleaded guilty to was conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline under Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954.
In court
  • She originally pleaded not guilty to all charges, then after a lengthy adjournment was rearraigned and pleaded guilty to a single count.
  • The Director of Military Prosecutions consented to nolle prosequi on four other Section 168 charges and a Section 150 charge.
  • The summary court martial sat at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin, where around 30 witnesses had been expected and a four-day trial was scheduled.
  • Colonel Michael Campion adjourned the case for sentencing until 8 October.
Sentence
A conviction for the offence can result in dismissal and a maximum prison sentence of six months.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe arranged for an unauthorised quantity of cigarettes to be placed on a military flight home from the Middle East. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe offence related to dispatching cigarettes above the quantity permitted under UN standing orders in a red suitcase. (extra.ie)
  • whereCapt Lundon is from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. (extra.ie)
  • whereShe was serving with the 112th Infantry Battalion on UN peacekeeping duties in South Lebanon at a UN post in At Tiri. (extra.ie)
  • whereShe is attached to the 2nd Brigade in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines. (extra.ie)
  • whenThe cigarettes were placed on the aircraft between October 31 and November 1, 2018. (extra.ie)
  • chargeShe was originally due to face six charges. (extra.ie)
  • chargeThe single charge was conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline under Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954. (extra.ie)
  • courtCaptain Catherine Lundon pleaded guilty before a summary court martial in Dublin. (extra.ie)
  • courtShe had originally pleaded not guilty but was rearraigned and pleaded guilty to a single count. (extra.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Military Prosecutions consented to nolle prosequi on four other Section 168 charges and a separate Section 150 charge. (extra.ie)
  • courtThe summary court martial sat at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks in Dublin. (extra.ie)
  • courtAround 30 witnesses had been expected and the trial was scheduled to last four days. (extra.ie)
  • courtColonel Michael Campion adjourned the case for sentencing until October 8. (extra.ie)
  • sentenceA conviction for the offence can result in dismissal and a maximum prison sentence of six months. (extra.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Sep2021
    Convictedextra.ie, first report
    Army captain pleads guilty to arranging cigarettes to be placed on military flight home - Extra.ie

    Reports the guilty plea at the summary court martial, the nolle prosequi on four other charges including one relating to a bottle of vodka, and the adjournment for sentencing to 8 October 2021.

    convicted, Catherine Lundon, female, named, irish (judged from name)Catherine Lundon