Friday 30 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. 15340Money laundering and drug offences · Co. Louth · 19 Oct 2021

Dundalk charity volunteer jailed for money laundering and drug offences

Gary Clarke, a 55-year-old man who volunteered with a homeless charity, was stopped while driving on 19 October 2021 and again on 4 January 2022 after a minor traffic collision, with cash and cocaine recovered in both incidents. He pleaded guilty to money laundering and drug offences, including having cocaine worth €69,521 for sale or supply, and Senior Counsel said the offending occurred when his family were being directly threatened. At Dundalk Circuit Court, Judge Dara Hayes jailed him for three years in effect, with the second case carrying a concurrent five-year term whose final two years were suspended for two years on a €100 good behaviour bond. The sentencing was reported on 29 November 2024, and he will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 55-year-old man who volunteered with a homeless charity was jailed for money laundering and drug offences.
When
  • The first incident occurred on 19 October 2021, when he was stopped while driving a car.
  • The second incident occurred on 4 January 2022, when he was pulled over after a minor traffic collision.
Investigation
  • Over €1,000 and a small amount of cocaine were found in his wallet during the first stop.
  • €8,175 wrapped in cling film and a face mask with his DNA were found in the car during the first incident.
  • €45,070 was found in the car during the second incident, which he said he had saved for his mother.
  • Three bags of cocaine worth €69,521 were recovered.
Charges
  • He pleaded guilty last February to money laundering and unlawful possession of drugs arising from the first detection.
  • He pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply and a further money laundering offence.
In court
The sentence was imposed at Dundalk Circuit Court before Judge Dara Hayes.
Sentence
  • For the first offending he received two years and nine months, and the second case carried a concurrent five-year term with the final two years suspended for two years on a €100 good behaviour bond.
  • He must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release and engage with counselling and HSE addiction services.
Other details
  • Senior Counsel said the offending occurred when his client's family were being directly threatened.
  • He had three previous convictions for road traffic matters and had not come to adverse garda attention since the second incident.
  • He deeply regrets his offending, and a Probation report put him at moderate risk of re-offending.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 55-year-old man who volunteered with a homeless charity was jailed for three years for money laundering and drug offences. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe sentence was imposed at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe first incident occurred when the defendant was stopped driving a car on 19 October 2021. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe second incident occurred on 4 January 2022, when he was pulled over after a minor traffic collision. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationOver €1,000 and a small amount of cocaine were found in his wallet during the first stop. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigation€8,175 wrapped in cling film and a face mask with the defendant's DNA were found in the car. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigation€45,070 was found in the car during the second incident, which he said he had saved for his mother. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty last February to money laundering and unlawful possession of drugs arising from the first detection. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThree bags of cocaine worth €69,521 were recovered, and he pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply and a further money laundering offence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceFor the first offending he received two years and nine months, with a concurrent five years for the second case, the final two years suspended for two years on a €100 good behaviour bond. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release and must engage with counselling and HSE addiction services. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherSenior Counsel said the offending occurred when his client's family were being directly threatened. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had three previous convictions for road traffic matters and had not come to adverse garda attention since the second incident. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant deeply regrets his offending, and a Probation report put him at moderate risk of re-offending. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Nov2024
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    A Dundalk charity volunteer has been jailed for money laundering and drug offences

    Reports the sentencing of the defendant at Dundalk Circuit Court, covering the October 2021 and January 2022 detections, the guilty pleas, mitigation and sentence terms.

    convicted, Gary Clarke, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Clarke