Thursday 29 October 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. 10287Drugs offence · Co. Offaly

Birr man jailed for nine months after putting suspected drugs in mouth to conceal them from Garda

On May 14, gardaí stopped Edward Kelly's car at 9am on Model School Road, Birr, County Offaly, and saw him putting deal bags into his mouth; a search later found €680 of one drug and €20 of another on him. Kelly, 49, was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply and with concealing suspected drugs from gardaí. At Tullamore District Court, Judge Andrew Cody convicted him of the sale or supply offence, and the concealment charge was taken into consideration. He was sentenced to nine months in prison, as reported on 27 March 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Edward Kelly, 49, of McAuley Drive, Birr, was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply.
  • He was also charged with placing numerous deal bags of suspected drugs into his mouth to conceal them from gardaí.
Where
The offence took place on Model School Road, Birr, County Offaly.
When
The offence was committed on May 14 at 9am; the report does not state the year.
Investigation
Gardaí stopped Kelly's car and saw him putting the bags into his mouth, according to Sergeant Richard Thornton.
Other details
  • A search found €680 of one drug and €20 of another drug on Kelly.
  • The charge of concealing suspected drugs from gardaí was taken into consideration.
  • The court report was published by Offaly Live on 27 March 2026.
In court
  • Kelly had four previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply.
  • His solicitor said he fully cooperated with gardaí on the day.
  • Judge Andrew Cody convicted Kelly of the sale or supply offence at Tullamore District Court.
Sentence
Kelly was sentenced to nine months in prison.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatEdward Kelly was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was also charged with placing deal bags of suspected drugs into his mouth to conceal them from gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA search found €680 of one drug and €20 of another drug on Kelly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place on Model School Road, Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence was committed on May 14. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí stopped Kelly's car at 9am and saw him putting bags into his mouth. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtKelly had four previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtKelly's solicitor said he fully cooperated with gardaí on the day. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody convicted Kelly of the sale or supply offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceKelly was sentenced to nine months in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe other charge was taken into consideration. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Mar2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Offaly man put bags of suspected drugs into mouth to conceal from Garda

    Court report on the sentencing of Edward Kelly. The article gives the offence date as May 14 without a year, so no incident date is recorded.

    convicted, Edward Kelly, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Kelly