Ireland Case No. 10929Possession of drugs for sale or supply · Co. Donegal · 9 Oct 2019
Carrigart man's cocaine sentence suspended at Letterkenny court
On 9 October 2019 gardaí stopped Joseph McHugh, a 36-year-old man from Carrigart, in his car near Letterkenny, and a search found cocaine and cannabis. McHugh pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to having drugs for sale or supply, and his barrister said he had been building a house and was in financial difficulty. The judge reduced a five-year starting sentence to two years and suspended it in full, with a €100 bond to keep the peace for two years. The latest development, reported in February 2026, is that the suspended sentence was imposed at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- When
- The stop took place on 9 October 2019.
- Where
- Gardaí stopped McHugh in his car near Letterkenny, and the report says the stop was at Bonagee.
- What happened
- Joseph McHugh, a 36-year-old man from Carrigart, was the suspect in the case.
- Investigation
- A search of the car found two bags containing a white powder and a small amount of suspected cannabis.
- Analysis confirmed the substances were cocaine and cannabis.
- Other details
- The cocaine was valued at about €3,480 in one source and at almost €4,000 in another.
- At arrest, McHugh admitted the cocaine was for sale or supply and the cannabis was for his own personal use.
- One source says McHugh sold cocaine to fund a house build, while the report text says he planned to sell the drugs for that purpose.
- Cause
- His barrister said McHugh had been building a house, was in financial difficulty and had been told by negative acquaintances there was good money in selling cocaine.
- Charges
- McHugh pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply.
- In court
- The judge placed the offence in the mid-range, with a five-year sentence before mitigation.
- Mitigating factors included no previous convictions, addiction, full cooperation and rehabilitation.
- Sentence
- The judge reduced the sentence from five years to two years and suspended it in its entirety.
- McHugh was ordered to sign a €100 bond to keep the peace for two years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAnalysis confirmed the substances were cocaine and cannabis, with the cocaine valued at about €3,480. (donegallive.ie)
- whereMcHugh was stopped by gardaí in his car near Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe stop took place on October 9, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
- causeHis barrister said McHugh had been building a house and was in financial difficulty at the time. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA search of the car found two bags containing a white powder and a small amount of suspected cannabis. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeMcHugh pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge placed the offence in the mid-range, with a five-year sentence before mitigation. (donegallive.ie)
- courtMitigating factors included no previous convictions, addiction, full cooperation and rehabilitation. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence from five years to two years. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the two-year sentence in its entirety. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceMcHugh was ordered to sign a €100 bond to keep the peace for two years. (donegallive.ie)
- otherAt arrest, McHugh admitted the cocaine was for sale or supply and the cannabis was for his own personal use. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Feb2026Judge suspends sentence for Carrigart man who sold cocaine to fund house build
First report of this 2019 case. Sentence of two years suspended in full at Letterkenny Circuit Court, with a €100 bond to keep the peace for two years.
convicted, Joseph McHugh, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph McHugh