Ireland Former Keogh's Crisps director pleads guilty to growing 39 cannabis plants in north Dublin
Anthony Keogh, 64, a former director of Keogh's Crisps, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to cultivating 39 cannabis plants, claiming they were for nutritional food supplements. He was sent forward for sentencing at the Circuit Criminal Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court6 Jul
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was initially charged with cultivation, unlawful possession, and having cannabis for purpose of sale or supply (rte.ie)
- whatGardaí originally estimated the value of the plants at €19,500 (rte.ie)
- whatThe value was revised downward to €7,800 (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThere were 39 plants inside the greenhouse (rte.ie)
- whatKeogh made admissions to gardaí that the plants were cannabis (rte.ie)
- whatGarda Keating agreed the plants were not cultivated for the illegal drug trade (rte.ie)
- whatKeogh was a horticulture expert and a farmer (rte.ie)
- whatThe greenhouse was not well concealed and was on the corner of a local and a main road (rte.ie)
- whatKeogh was a farmer since the age of 15 and bought hemp seeds lawfully (rte.ie)
- whatKeogh did not have a licence to grow hemp (rte.ie)
- whatKeogh grew 39 cannabis plants (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe claimed the plants were to make nutritional food supplements (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is a horticulture expert and farmer (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí originally estimated the value of the cannabis plants at €19,500 (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe lives at Newtown Lane, Oldtown, north Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenKeogh was arrested on 9 July 2020 (rte.ie)
- whenHe was arrested on 9 July 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrived with a warrant and searched Keogh's greenhouse at Newtown Lane (rte.ie)
- investigationHe was taken to Ballymun Garda Station (rte.ie)
- investigationAnalysis confirmed the plants were cannabis (rte.ie)
- chargeThe drug supply charge was withdrawn last month (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was initially charged with cultivation of cannabis, unlawful possession, and having it for the purpose of sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe drug supply charge was withdrawn the previous month (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed summary disposal on a guilty plea only (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtOn 17 May Judge Treasa Kelly held the case was too serious for the district court (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtHis solicitor Tony Collier furnished the court with a signed plea of guilty (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge made an order sending Keogh forward for sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered him sent forward for sentencing at the Circuit Criminal Court on Friday (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Olan Keating agreed the plants were not cultivated for the illegal drug trade (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeogh has no prior criminal convictions (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Jul2021Former crisps exec enters guilty plea to growing cannabis
Reports the guilty plea entered by Keogh's solicitor at Dublin District Court and the judge's order sending the case to the Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The drug supply charge had been withdrawn and the DPP had directed summary disposal on a guilty plea only.
accused, Anthony Keogh, 64, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Keogh - 6 Jul2021Former company director pleads guilty in cannabis case
Provides details of the guilty plea hearing: the drug supply charge was withdrawn, the valuation was revised from €19,500 to €7,800, Judge Kelly refused jurisdiction on 17 May and again at the plea hearing, and Keogh was sent to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. Garda Olan Keating confirmed the plants were not part of a wider criminal enterprise.
accused, Anthony Keogh, 64, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Keogh