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. 13709Drug trafficking (heroin) · Co. Dublin · 5 Aug 2020

Former League of Ireland manager jailed for 13.5 years over heroin importation

Andrew Noonan, 45, a former Bluebell United manager and League of Ireland player, was convicted after a trial over a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise, with offences on 5 August 2020 at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. Gardaí carried out a controlled delivery in which they posed as delivery men to his co-accused, Keith Quinn, 36, who pleaded guilty and received seven and a half years, with the final three and a half suspended, in 2021. The Court of Appeal later increased Quinn's sentence to eight years with 18 months suspended. Noonan was convicted of three drugs offences and of possessing a phone with an encrypted application, was acquitted of possessing a signal blocker, and denies any role in the drugs. On 16 May 2025, Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jailed him for 13.5 years after setting a headline sentence of 15 years and saying there was no basis to suspend any of the term.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Andrew Noonan, 45, a former Bluebell United manager and League of Ireland player, was involved in importing €2.769 million worth of heroin.
Where
The drugs offences took place at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11.
When
The offences took place on 5 August 2020.
Cause
Co-accused Keith Quinn, 36, became involved in the offence due to a gambling debt.
Investigation
  • British police became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK.
  • Gardaí posed as delivery men in a controlled delivery of the drugs to Quinn.
  • Three phones were retrieved from Noonan's person and car, and analysis found the UPS tracking code for the package, which he had checked 27 times.
Charges
  • Noonan was convicted after a trial of three drugs offences relating to possession, sale and supply, and of possessing a phone with the Enigma encrypted application.
  • Noonan was acquitted of possessing a signal blocker.
In court
  • Gardaí believe Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to Quinn and describe his level in the enterprise as high.
  • Noonan does not accept the jury's verdict and denies any role in relation to the drugs.
Sentence
  • Quinn pleaded guilty in 2021 and received seven and a half years, with the final three and a half years suspended, and the Court of Appeal later increased this to eight years with 18 months suspended.
  • Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of 15 years and imposed 13.5 years after mitigation, saying there was no basis to suspend any of the term.
  • Noonan was jailed for 13 and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 May 2025.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNoonan was involved in importing €2.769 million worth of heroin. (rte.ie)
  • whatAndrew Noonan has been jailed for 13.5 years over his role in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe drugs were possessed, sold and supplied at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe drugs offences took place at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe offences took place on 5 August 2020. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on August 5, 2020. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí posed as delivery men in a controlled delivery of the drugs. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBritish police became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí carried out a controlled delivery, with a garda posing as a delivery driver. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThree phones were retrieved from Noonan's person and his car. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationAnalysis of Noonan's phones found the UPS tracking code for the package, and he had checked its location 27 times. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted after a trial of three drugs offences. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of possessing a phone with an encrypted application. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of three drugs offences relating to possession, sale and supply of the drugs. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of possessing a phone with the Enigma encrypted application. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtGardaí believed Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to his co-accused. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceNoonan was jailed for 13 and a half years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 15 years before taking mitigation into account. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said there was no basis to suspend any of the term. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceCo-accused Keith Quinn pleaded guilty and received a seven and a half year sentence in 2021. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal later increased Quinn's sentence to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of 15 years and imposed 13.5 years after mitigation. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceKeith Quinn pleaded guilty and received a seven and a half year sentence, with the final three and a half years suspended, in 2021. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal later increased Quinn's sentence to eight years with 18 months suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherNoonan was acquitted of possessing a signal blocker. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherNoonan does not accept the jury's verdict and denied any role in relation to the drugs. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherGardaí believe Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to co-accused Keith Quinn. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherQuinn became involved in the offence due to gambling debt. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 May2025
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Kildare resident jailed over €2.7m heroin seizure

    Reports the sentencing of Andrew Noonan after his trial. Co-accused Keith Quinn pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier, and his sentence was later increased on appeal.

    convicted, Andrew Noonan, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Noonanconvicted, Keith Quinn, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Quinn
  2. 16 May2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man sentenced to 13 and a half years for importing heroin

    Reports the sentence of 13 and a half years imposed on Noonan, the judge's sentencing remarks, the headline sentence of 15 years, and co-accused Keith Quinn's earlier sentence and Court of Appeal increase.

    convicted, Andrew Noonan, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Noonanconvicted, Keith Quinn, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Quinn