Thursday 5 November 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. 29989Possession of drugs (cannabis for sale or supply, amphetamine); breach of the peace · Co. Offaly · 25 Mar 2021

Drugs and breach of peace offender warned of prison in Tullamore

On 25 March 2021, €240 worth of cannabis resin was found on a man at Offaly Street, Tullamore, after gardaí saw him trying to throw something away, and on 30 April four deal bags of amphetamine were found at his address at Marian Hostel. Aryan Habibi, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, also swung at Mr Dolan, a man, at Dolan's store on Clara Road on 30 April. Habibi was arrested, made admissions, and pleaded guilty to both drugs charges and a breach of the peace. At a sentencing hearing in September 2021, Judge Staines warned him of a potential two-year prison sentence and adjourned sentencing to 8 December 2021.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Sep
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • €240 worth of cannabis resin was found on a man at Offaly Street, Tullamore, on 25 March 2021 after gardaí saw him trying to throw something away.
  • Four deal bags of amphetamine worth €120 were found at the accused's address at Marian Hostel on 30 April 2021.
  • The accused swung at Mr Dolan in a threatening manner at Dolan's store on Clara Road on 30 April 2021.
Where
Habibi was living at the direct provision centre at Marian Hostel, High Street, Tullamore.
Charges
Habibi was arrested, made admissions to possessing drugs for sale or supply, and pleaded guilty to both drugs charges and a breach of the peace.
In court
A sentencing hearing took place at Portlaoise Circuit Court in September 2021, with a restorative justice report prepared in advance.
Sentence
Judge Staines warned Habibi of a potential two-year prison sentence and adjourned sentencing to 8 December 2021.
Other details
  • Habibi had no previous convictions and said smoking cannabis was normal in his home country.
  • He travelled from Afghanistan through Pakistan and France to Ireland, leaving some siblings behind in France.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour deal bags of amphetamines were found at the hostel on April 30 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • what€240 worth of cannabis resin was found at Offaly Street in Tullamore on March 25 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí on patrol saw a male trying to throw something away at Offaly Street (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • what€240 of cannabis was found in a sealed bag on top of a gate divided into segments (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatOn April 30 the accused entered Dolan's Gala with a friend who was not wearing a mask (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant swung at Mr Dolan in a threatening manner but did not connect (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • what€120 worth of amphetamine was found at the accused's address at Marian Hostel (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatAryan Habibi is a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatFour deal bags of amphetamines were found at the hostel on 30 April 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • what€240 worth of cannabis resin was found on him at Offaly Street, Tullamore, on 25 March 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí on patrol saw a male trying to throw something away on Offaly Street. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatOn 30 April the accused entered Dolan's Gala accompanied by a friend not wearing a mask. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA search of the accused's address at Marian Hostel found €120 worth of amphetamine. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereHabibi was living in the direct provision centre at Marian Hostel, High Street, Tullamore (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereHe was living at the direct provision centre at Marian Hostel, High Street, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to both drugs charges and a breach of the peace at Dolan's store, Clara Road, on April 30 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHabibi was arrested and made admissions to possessing the drug for sale or supply (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to both drugs charges and a breach of the peace at Dolan's store, Clara Road, on 30 April. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeMr Habibi was arrested and made admissions to possessing the drug for sale or supply. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA restorative justice report was prepared for him in advance of sentencing (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Staines said she had sympathy but he had committed some very serious offences (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Staines said he had pleaded guilty to selling drugs and had them divided up into different bags (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThere had been a lot of problems making contact with the accused for the restorative justice service (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtA restorative justice report was prepared in advance of sentencing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Staines said she had sympathy but he had committed very serious offences in Ireland. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Staines said there had been a lot of problems making contact with the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge warned him he could go to prison for two years (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHabibi had no previous convictions (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe came from Afghanistan through Pakistan and then through France to Ireland (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSome of his siblings were stuck in France (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherAfter arriving in Ireland he got a job for a short period in AES (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHabibi said smoking cannabis would be normal in his own country and the drugs were for his own use (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis defence solicitor said he had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe travelled from Afghanistan through Pakistan and then through France to Ireland. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe left his family behind and some siblings were stuck in France. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe got a job for a short period in AES after arriving in Ireland. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMr Habibi said smoking cannabis would be normal in his own country and the drugs were for his own use. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Sep2021
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Illegal drugs found in Offaly direct provision centre

    Sentencing adjourned to 8 December 2021; accused warned of potential two-year prison sentence; restorative justice report prepared; accused told smoking cannabis was normal in his home country.

    accused, Aryan Habibi, 24, male, Afghan, named, non-irishAryan Habibivictim, Mr Dolan, male, irish (judged from name)Mr Dolan
  2. 21 Sep2021
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Illegal drugs found in midlands direct provision centre

    Provides further detail on the offences (cannabis found on a gate at Offaly Street, amphetamine found at Marian Hostel, swing at Mr Dolan at Dolan's Gala), the restorative justice report issues, and the judge's warning of a potential two-year prison sentence before adjourning sentencing to 8 December 2021.

    suspect, Aryan Habibi, 24, male, Afghan, named, non-irishAryan Habibivictim, Mr Dolan, male, irish (judged from name)Mr Dolan