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. 10513Possession of cannabis for sale or supply; simple possession of cannabis · Co. Donegal · 23 Feb 2024

Buncrana man admits cannabis offences worth €850

Don McManus, a man from Buncrana, Donegal, was stopped by gardaí at Gransha Road, Buncrana, on Friday, February 23, 2024, after failing to indicate in a silver Ford Fiesta, and cannabis valued at €850 was recovered from the car and his house. On March 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty at Buncrana District Court to two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply and two counts of simple possession, and the judge accepted the plea. The defence said he used cannabis to self-medicate ADHD and has been clean and sober for more than a year. The judge adjourned sentencing to June 11 at Buncrana District Court, and no sentence has yet been imposed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted13 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí recovered cannabis with an estimated total value of €850.
Where
About €200 of cannabis was found at the house, and the rest was found in the car.
When
The charges arose from a road traffic stop on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Gransha Road, Buncrana.
Cause
  • Gardaí stopped a silver Ford Fiesta after the driver failed to indicate.
  • The defence said the defendant used cannabis to self-medicate his ADHD after prescribed medication did not agree with him.
Investigation
  • Gardaí detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside the car.
  • Gardaí searched the vehicle under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and obtained a search warrant for the defendant's Earlsfort residence.
  • The defendant made admissions about owning the drugs and did not obstruct the search.
Charges
The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply and two counts of simple possession.
In court
  • The judge accepted the guilty plea and called the quantity of cannabis, valued at €850, quite a lot.
  • The judge adjourned sentencing to June 11 at Buncrana District Court.
Other details
  • The suspect is Don McManus, of 14 Earlsfort, Buncrana, described as a chef.
  • The court heard the defendant has six previous convictions.
  • The defence said the defendant has been clean and sober for more than a year.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí recovered cannabis with an estimated total value of €850. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereCannabis worth about €200 was found at the house, and the rest was found in the car. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe charges arose from a road traffic stop on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Gransha Road, Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeGardaí stopped a silver Ford Fiesta after the driver failed to indicate. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe defence said the defendant used cannabis to self-medicate his ADHD after prescribed medication did not agree with him. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside the car. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí searched the vehicle under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a search warrant to search the defendant's Earlsfort residence. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant made admissions about owning the drugs and did not obstruct the search. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply and two counts of simple possession. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge accepted the guilty plea. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge called the quantity of cannabis, valued at €850, quite a lot. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned sentencing to June 11 at Buncrana District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe court heard the defendant has six previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant has been clean and sober for more than a year. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Mar2026
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Buncrana chef had been using cannabis to ‘self-medicate’ his ADHD, court told

    Reports the guilty plea, the mitigation that the defendant self-medicated for ADHD and is now clean, and the adjournment for sentencing to June 11 at Buncrana District Court.

    convicted, Don McManus, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Don McManus