Ireland Case No. 21055Possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply · Co. Dublin · 20 Oct 2022
Former construction worker jailed for holding over €1 million of drugs at home
John Reeves, a man aged 58 of Birches Road, Wedgewood, Sandyford, Dublin, was found holding cocaine and heroin worth over €1 million at his home on 20 October 2022. Gardaí found a pink suitcase containing eight blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine, valued at about €560,000 and €490,000. Reeves later went voluntarily to a garda station and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply. On 18 May 2023 Judge Martina Baxter jailed him for five years, suspending the final two years of a seven-year prison term on conditions set by the Probation Service.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John Reeves was found holding over €1 million of cocaine and heroin at his home.
- The heroin was estimated at around €560,000 and the cocaine at approximately €490,000.
- The drugs were eight blocks of heroin, each about half a kilo, and seven blocks of cocaine, each about 1kg.
- Where
- Reeves lives at Birches Road, Wedgewood, Sandyford, Dublin.
- When
- The offence took place on 20 October 2022.
- Cause
- Reeves told gardaí he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a drugs debt.
- Investigation
- Gardaí searched Reeves's address and found a pink suitcase containing the heroin and cocaine blocks.
- Reeves later went voluntarily to a garda station and said he knew the suitcase contained drugs, but not what type.
- Charges
- Reeves pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply.
- In court
- The plea was entered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Garda Shane Donovan gave evidence and Liam Dockery BL prosecuted.
- Defence counsel said Reeves made a serious error of judgement and that his role was at the lower end of the scale.
- Sentence
- On 18 May 2023 Judge Martina Baxter jailed Reeves for five years, suspending the final two years of a seven-year prison term on condition he abides by Probation Service directions, including grief and addiction counselling, training and employment.
- Other details
- The garda witness accepted that Reeves had no control over the nature or quantity of the drugs he was asked to hold to reduce a drugs debt of €3,000.
- Reeves has no previous convictions and has not come to negative garda attention since the offence.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatReeves was found holding over €1 million of cocaine and heroin at his home. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe heroin was estimated at around €560,000 and the cocaine at approximately €490,000. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA former construction worker was holding over €1 million worth of cocaine and heroin at his home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe heroin was estimated to be worth around €560,000 and the cocaine about €490,000. (irishtimes.com)
- whereReeves lived at Birches Road, Wedgewood, Sandyford, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereJohn Reeves lives at Birches Road, Wedgewood, Sandyford, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence was committed on 20 October 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on October 20th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeReeves told gardaí he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a drugs debt. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found a pink suitcase containing eight blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine during a search of his address. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationReeves later went voluntarily to a garda station and said he knew the suitcase contained drugs. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched Reeves’ address and found a suitcase containing heroin and cocaine blocks. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationReeves went voluntarily to a garda station and said he knew the suitcase contained drugs but not what type. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeReeves pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Shane Donovan gave evidence and Liam Dockery BL prosecuted the case. (thejournal.ie)
- courtDefence counsel said Reeves had made a serious error of judgement. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel said Reeves's role was at the lower end of the scale. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceReeves was jailed for five years. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martina Baxter suspended the final two years of a seven-year prison term. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe garda witness accepted that Reeves would have had no control over the nature or quantity of the drugs he was asked to hold to reduce a drugs debt of €3,000. (thejournal.ie)
- otherReeves has no previous convictions and has not come to negative garda attention since the offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherReeves has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe garda witness accepted that Reeves had no control over the nature or quantity of the drugs he was asked to hold to reduce a drugs debt of €3,000. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2023Former construction worker jailed for holding over €1 million worth of cocaine and heroin at home
Reports the guilty plea at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the five-year sentence with two years suspended, the seizure details, and the mitigation put forward for Reeves.
convicted, John Reeves, 58, named, irish (judged from name)John Reeves - 18 May2023Man jailed for five years after suitcase containing €1 million of drugs found in his home
Adds the sentence (five years, with the final two of a seven-year term suspended), the court and prosecution details, the drug values, Reeves's account to gardaí and the mitigation put forward by his defence.
convicted, John Reeves, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Reeves