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. 10575Importation of cocaine · Co. Longford · 4 Aug 2022

Convicted pilot seeks new legal team before sentencing over €8.4m cocaine importation

On 3 August 2022 a light aircraft departed Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in Co Longford and returned on the evening of 4 August, when gardaí put surveillance in place. Gardaí intercepted and arrested Timothy Gilchrist at Lough Owel, Co Westmeath, and 120 blocks of cocaine, about 120kg with a market value of €8.4 million, were seized. Michal Luczak, 44, a Polish national and pilot, was convicted by a jury in October 2025 after a three-week trial at Mullingar Circuit Court. On 9 March 2026 he told the court his legal team had withdrawn, and Judge Roderick Maguire adjourned sentencing until 13 April.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted9 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The case concerns the alleged importation of cocaine with a market value of €8.4 million.
Where
  • The aircraft departed from Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in Co Longford.
  • Timothy Gilchrist was intercepted and arrested by gardaí at Lough Owel, Co Westmeath.
When
The aircraft departed on 3 August 2022 and landed back at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in the early evening of 4 August 2022.
Investigation
Garda surveillance was put in place on the day the plane landed.
Other details
  • Six bags loaded into a car were found to contain 20 blocks each.
  • The 120 blocks contained about 120kg of cocaine with a market value of €8.4 million.
  • The State said Luczak was key to the success of the operation.
In court
  • A jury found Michal Luczak, 44, a Polish national, guilty after a three-week trial at Mullingar Circuit Court.
  • The conviction was returned in October 2025.
  • On 9 March 2026 Luczak told the court there had been a breakdown in communication with his legal team and that they no longer represented him.
  • Judge Roderick Maguire adjourned the sentencing case until 13 April.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe aircraft departed from Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in Co Longford. (rte.ie)
  • whereGilchrist was intercepted and arrested by gardaí at Lough Owel, Co Westmeath. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe aircraft departed on 3 August 2022. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe plane landed back at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in the early evening of 4 August. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda surveillance was put in place on the day the plane landed. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe pilot was convicted last October and his sentencing was adjourned. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury found Luczak guilty after a three-week trial at Mullingar Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Maguire adjourned the case until 13 April. (rte.ie)
  • otherLuczak told the court there had been a breakdown in communication with his legal team. (rte.ie)
  • otherSix bags were loaded into a car and found to contain 20 blocks each. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe 120 blocks contained about 120kg of cocaine with a market value of €8.4 million. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe State said Luczak was key to the success of the operation. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Mar2026
    Convictedrte.ie, first report
    Man who imported cocaine worth €8.4m seeks new legal team

    Reports the adjournment of sentencing on Monday 9 March 2026 after Luczak said his legal team had withdrawn, and gives trial details including the jury verdict, the aircraft route and the seizure.

    convicted, Michal Luczak, 44, male, Polish, named, non-irishMichal Luczakconvicted, Timothy Gilchrist, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Timothy Gilchrist