Ireland Brothers remanded over €1.5m cannabis safe house in Tallaght, Dublin
Mark Courtney, 58, and his brother Derek Courtney, 53, were remanded in custody at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 28 March 2026 after being charged with possessing 70kg of cannabis herb and 10kg of cannabis resin worth €1.46m found at Derek's home in St Aongus Green, Tallaght, on 26 March 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested27 Mar
- Charged26 Mar
- In court28 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports41 statements extracted from the articles
- what€1.52 million worth of cannabis was seized (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 50s were arrested in connection with the investigation (garda.ie)
- what83 kilos of suspected cannabis resin and herb were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was worth €1.52 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested in the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth men are in their fifties (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOfficers recovered 70kg of cannabis herb and 10kg of cannabis resin, some vacuum packed, and weighing scales. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe value of the drugs was €1.46 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in South Dublin (garda.ie)
- whereThe seizure was made in south Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found at Derek Courtney's home in St Aongus Green, Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe cannabis was recovered from Derek Courtney's bedroom and two spare rooms. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 26 March 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on Thursday evening (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe brothers were charged on 26 March 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was made by the Dublin Crime Response Team, a special unit aimed at taking on gangsters in the capital (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe men are being held under anti-drugs legislation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe men can be detained for up to a week (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure will be examined by experts from Forensic Science Ireland (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe raid was conducted by the Dublin Crime Response Team (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two men have been charged (garda.ie)
- courtThey are due to appear before the District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 28 March 2026 at 10.30am (garda.ie)
- courtMark Courtney did not apply for bail and was remanded with a recommendation for medical treatment (irishtimes.com)
- courtMark Courtney made no reply to the charge (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John Hughes set Derek's bail at €10,000 with half to be lodged (irishtimes.com)
- courtA €15,000 independent surety must be approved before release (irishtimes.com)
- courtLegal aid was granted to both brothers (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe pair will appear again next week at Cloverhill District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtMark Courtney did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody with a recommendation for medical treatment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDerek Courtney was remanded in custody with consent to bail of €25,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge John Hughes set Derek's bail at €10,000 with a €15,000 independent surety. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to both brothers and they will appear again next week at Cloverhill District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda Acting Assistant Commissioner Dublin Metropolitan Region Jonathan Roberts welcomed the seizure (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDerek Courtney was paid and trusted to keep the drugs for a significant drug-trafficking organisation (irishtimes.com)
- otherDerek Courtney is on disability leave and employed by Dublin City Council (irishtimes.com)
- otherDCRT Garda Tom Doyle stated Derek was paid and trusted to keep the drugs for a significant drug trafficking organisation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDerek told gardaí upon their entry that he was not in trouble five minutes earlier but was now. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDerek Courtney is on disability leave and is employed by Dublin City Council. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMark Courtney lives at Grace O'Malley Drive, Howth, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDerek's barrister described him as not the Napoleon of crime and a single man who lived most of his life at the same address. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Mar2026Brothers remanded in custody over €1.5m cannabis 'safe house'
Court appearance details: Mark remanded without applying for bail with a medical treatment recommendation; Derek remanded with consent to bail of €25,000, Judge John Hughes set bail at €10,000 with a €15,000 independent surety. DCRT Garda Tom Doyle testified Derek was paid to keep drugs for a significant drug trafficking organisation. Legal aid granted; next appearance at Cloverhill District Court.
accused, Mark Courtney, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Courtneyaccused, Derek Courtney, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Courtney - 28 Mar2026Man charged in €1.5m drugs seizure at Dublin home ‘not the Napoleon of crime’, court told
Provides court details including the garda's testimony that Derek was paid to keep drugs for a significant drug-trafficking organisation, Derek's employment by Dublin City Council, his barrister's bail plea, and Judge John Hughes' bail conditions of €10,000 (half lodged) plus a €15,000 independent surety.
suspect, Mark Courtney, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Courtneysuspect, Derek Courtney, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Courtney - 27 Mar2026Gardai arrest two men after major drugs seizure
Initial report of the arrest identifying the unit as the Dublin Crime Response Team, the quantity as 83kg worth €1.52m, and noting the cannabis will be examined by FSI.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 26 Mar2026Update - Court Appearance - Operation Tara: Seizure of €1.52 million worth of Cannabis, South Dublin, 26th March 2026
Garda press release confirming the two men have been charged and are due to appear before the District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court No. 2) on 28 March 2026 at 10.30am.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 50s, male