Thursday 29 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. 10297Unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply · Co. Dublin · 8 Feb 2024

Former prison officer given suspended sentence over drugs and proceeds charges

Aaron Sheridan, a 38-year-old former prison officer, was searched at his Dublin home on 8 February 2024, when gardaí found over 61 tablets in an Irish Prison Service peaked hat and around 900 more in a rolled-up sock. Sheridan pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply and admitted having the proceeds of criminal conduct, and a money laundering charge was taken into consideration for sentencing. He was charged in February 2025, having pleaded guilty to the two charges the previous November. On 26 March 2026 Judge Orla Crowe gave him a two-year sentence, suspended for four years on strict conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A former prison officer admitted dealing prescription drugs.
Where
Gardaí searched Sheridan's home in Dublin.
When
The search took place on 8 February 2024.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found over 61 tablets loosely in an Irish Prison Service peaked hat.
  • Around 900 tablets were found separately in a rolled-up sock.
  • Gardaí said there was no evidence that Sheridan supplied drugs within the prison.
Cause
Sheridan first told gardaí the tablets were for personal use because of a cocaine addiction, but later told the Probation Service he supplied them to colleagues in the prison service.
Charges
  • Sheridan pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home.
  • Sheridan admitted having the proceeds of criminal conduct, relating to €1,200 in cash found at his home.
  • He was also charged with possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct in his bank accounts, relating to €118,000 in allegedly unexplained monies between 2017 and 2024.
In court
  • Sheridan was charged in February 2025 and had pleaded guilty to the two charges the previous November.
  • No plea was entered on the money laundering count, which was taken into consideration for sentencing.
Sentence
Judge Orla Crowe gave Sheridan a two-year sentence, suspended for four years on strict conditions.
Other details
  • The defence said Sheridan had a gambling addiction that was out of control by the time he joined the prison service in 2018.
  • Gardaí accepted Sheridan was in debt at the time of his arrest and had no trappings of wealth.
  • Sheridan has three prior convictions, all for minor road traffic offences, and has resigned from the prison service.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA former prison officer admitted dealing prescription drugs. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenGardaí searched Sheridan's Dublin home on February 8, 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found over 61 tablets loosely in an Irish Prison Service peaked hat. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationAround 900 tablets were found separately in a rolled-up sock. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationSheridan later told the Probation Service he supplied the tablets to colleagues in the prison service. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said there was no evidence Sheridan supplied drugs within the prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeSheridan pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeSheridan admitted having the proceeds of criminal conduct relating to €1,200 cash found at his home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeSheridan was also charged with possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct in his bank accounts. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe money laundering charge related to €118,000 in allegedly unexplained monies moving through his accounts between 2017 and 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtNo plea was entered on the money laundering count, which was taken into consideration for sentencing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtSheridan was charged in February 2025 and pleaded guilty the previous November to the two charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe gave Sheridan a two-year sentence, suspended for four years on strict conditions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSheridan initially told gardaí the tablets were for personal use because of a cocaine addiction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Sheridan had a gambling addiction that was out of control by the time he joined the prison service in 2018. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí accepted Sheridan was in debt at the time of his arrest and had no trappings of wealth. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSheridan has three prior convictions, all for minor road traffic offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSheridan has resigned from the prison service. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Mar2026
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Gardaí found benzodiazepine tablets in prison officer's official hat

    Reports the sentencing of Aaron Sheridan. No existing case matches this one.

    convicted, Aaron Sheridan, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Sheridan