Ireland Brian Grendon, 48, charged with directing organised crime gang in Dublin
Brian Grendon, 48, of Clondalkin, west Dublin, was charged with directing a criminal organisation involved in drug trafficking and money laundering between August 2024 and September 2024. He was arrested at Dublin Airport on 25 January 2026 and remanded in custody at Dublin District Court on 26 January 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested25 Jan
- Chargednot reported
- In court26 Jan
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports46 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe suspect is a man in his 40s from west Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang is known as the Family (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí suspect he has become one of the most significant figures in Irish drug dealing over the last decade (irishtimes.com)
- whatDrugs were hidden in secret compartments in modified vehicles for smuggling to Ireland on car ferries (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Family gang was one of the main targets of the Ghost app inquiry (irishtimes.com)
- whatIrish criminals were the most prolific users of the Ghost app outside of Australia (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Family gang has a long history of drug dealing in the Republic, initially in the heroin trade in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Kinahan cartel's Irish operation was once led by Liam Byrne of Crumlin, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Family gang has become the biggest drug gang still based in Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrian Grendon, 48, of Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, was arrested by officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau at Dublin Airport on Sunday night after coming back into the country. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrian Grendon, 48, lives at Greeenfort Drive in Clondalkin, west Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe criminal organisation was involved in the importation and distribution of controlled drugs and money laundering of the proceeds (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBrian Grendon, 48, of Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, west Dublin, appeared in court charged with directing an organised crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe organisation is alleged to have been involved in the importation and distribution of controlled drugs and the money laundering of the proceeds of their sale. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was arrested at Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
- whereGrendon was brought to Kevin Street Garda Station in the city centre (dublinlive.ie)
- whereHe was arrested at Dublin Airport at 8.50pm on Sunday night (25 January 2026). (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was brought to Kevin Street Garda Station in the city centre where he was charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged period of directing the criminal organisation is between August 1, 2024 and September 17, 2024 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenGrendon was arrested at Dublin Airport at 8.50pm on Sunday 25 January 2026 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe alleged period of directing the criminal organisation was between 1 August 2024 and 17 September 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was carried out by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAustralian police led a major international inquiry into the Ghost app (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFollow-on searches and arrests took place in Dublin in March 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Hugh McInerney of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence at the hearing (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was made by Detective Sergeant Hugh McInerney of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe will face charges of directing an organised crime gang (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offence is contrary to section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGrendon is charged with one count of directing the activities of a criminal organisation within the State (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe charge is under section 71a of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with one count of directing the activities of a criminal organisation within the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was held overnight pending his appearance before Judge Máire Conneely at Dublin District Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe has yet to indicate a plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDue to the nature of the charge, he could not apply for bail in the District Court, as the offence category requires a High Court decision. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Grendon was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGrendon made no reply to the charge (dublinlive.ie)
- courtNo application for bail was made at the hearing (dublinlive.ie)
- courtGrendon was remanded in custody to appear at Dublin District Court on Tuesday 27 January 2026 (dublinlive.ie)
- courtJudge Máire Conneely presided over the hearing at Dublin District Court (dublinlive.ie)
- courtNo application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody to appear at Dublin District Court on Tuesday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe hearing was before Judge Máire Conneely at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe charge carries a sentence of up to life upon conviction (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherGrendon's solicitor is Wayne Kenny (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGrendon was arrested arriving at Dublin Airport rather than leaving the country (dublinlive.ie)
- otherHe made no reply to the charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis solicitor stated he was arrested coming into Dublin Airport and was not leaving the country. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jan2026Man charged in major organised crime case after Dublin Airport arrest
Reports the court appearance and remand of Brian Grendon, charged under section 71a of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 with directing an organised crime gang involved in importation/distribution of controlled drugs and money laundering. His solicitor clarified he was arriving at, not leaving, Dublin Airport.
accused, Brian Grendon, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Grendon - 26 Jan2026Man charged with directing organised crime gang following Dublin Airport arrest
Provides details of the court hearing: Judge Máire Conneely presided, Detective Sergeant Hugh McInerney of GNDOCB gave evidence, solicitor Wayne Kenny confirmed Grendon was arriving at Dublin Airport rather than leaving, no bail application was made, and Grendon was remanded to appear on 27 January 2026.
accused, Brian Grendon, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Grendon - 26 Jan2026Dublin man appears in court charged with directing criminal gang
Provides details of the court appearance: the specific charge wording under section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, the presiding judge (Máire Conneely), the detective (Det Sgt Hugh McInerney), that Grendon made no reply when charged at Kevin Street Garda Station, that he could not apply for bail in District Court as the offence requires a High Court decision, and that he was remanded to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday.
accused, Brian Grendon, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Grendon - 25 Jan2026Leading Irish drug dealer with ‘Family’ gang arrested at Dublin Airport
Provides background on the 'Family' gang, its connection to the Ghost app investigation, its alleged drugs distribution hub in Spain, and its rise following the decline of the Kinahan cartel's Irish operation.
suspect, 40s, male