Ireland Case No. 17274Possession of cocaine with intent to sell or supply · Co. Dublin · 14 Feb 2023
Four sent for trial over Dublin cocaine possession charges
Almost €2m worth of cocaine was found at Shields Automotive garage on Long Mile Road, Dublin 12, on 14 February 2023. Wesley Shields, 33, the garage owner, and Dylan Grouse, 27, an apprentice mechanic, were arrested at the premises, while David Rowland, 42, an electrician, and Lauren Graham, 27, were stopped at separate locations in connection with 2kg of cocaine allegedly delivered to Graham's car. All four were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell or supply and appeared before Cloverhill District Court on 16 February 2023, where Shields and Grouse were refused bail. The DPP directed trial on indictment and the case is listed for mention at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 June 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Feb
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Almost €2m worth of cocaine was found at Shields Automotive garage on Long Mile Road, Dublin 12, on 14 February 2023.
- Wesley Shields, 33, the garage owner, and Dylan Grouse, 27, an apprentice mechanic, were arrested at the premises.
- David Rowland, 42, an electrician, and Lauren Graham, 27, were stopped at separate locations in connection with 2kg of cocaine allegedly delivered to Graham's car, along with tubs of a mixing agent in the boot.
- Two other men arrested during the operation were released without charge.
- Where
- The search took place at Shields Automotive, Unit 13C Parkmore Industrial Estate, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12.
- When
- The search took place on 14 February 2023.
- Investigation
- The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau conducted the search and stopped a van and a car at two other locations in Dublin.
- Charges
- All four were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell or supply.
- In court
- Bail hearings were held before Judge John Brennan at Cloverhill District Court on 16 February 2023; Shields and Grouse were refused bail while Graham and Rowland were granted bail with €10,000 sureties.
- The DPP directed trial on indictment and the case is listed for mention at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 June 2024.
- Other details
- Landlord Gerry Fahy is seeking repossession of the garage premises against Shields for unpaid rent and rates exceeding €30,000.
71 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlmost €2m worth of cocaine was found at a premises on Long Mile Road in Dublin (rte.ie)
- whatWesley Shields, 33, of Kilmartin Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin, was arrested at the premises (rte.ie)
- whatDylan Grouse, 27, of Golden Lane, Dublin 8, was arrested at the premises (rte.ie)
- whatLauren Graham, 27, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin, was charged (rte.ie)
- whatDavid Rowland, 42, of Earlsfort Vale, Lucan, Co Dublin, was charged (rte.ie)
- whatTwo other men arrested were released without charge (rte.ie)
- whatDuring the same operation, a van and a car were stopped at two other locations in Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA further €1.96 million worth of cocaine was allegedly located at Shields Automotive (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWesley Shields, 33, of Kilmartin Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin, was the garage owner (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan Grouse, 27, from Golden Lane, Dublin 8, was arrested at the premises (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLauren Graham, 27, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin, was granted bail (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDavid Rowland, 42, of Earlsfort Vale, Lucan, Co Dublin, was granted bail (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLauren Graham was observed as sole occupant in a Fiat Punto stopped at the Aldi car park on the Long Mile Road at 10.30 am (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA Ford Transit van driven by electrician Rowland arrived and he placed an Aldi shopping bag in the back seat footwell of Graham's car (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA cardboard box containing two blocks of cocaine, each weighing a kilo, with a total estimated value of €140,000 was recovered from Graham's car (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIt was alleged Rowland collected the cocaine from Shields Automotive (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCocaine was found in various rooms in the garage building (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatShields owned the premises but maintained he rented rooms out to others (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí uncovered about €2 million of cocaine in a Dublin garage (irishtimes.com)
- whatA van and a car were also stopped at two other locations in Dublin during the same operation (irishtimes.com)
- whatTubs of a mixing agent were found in the boot of the woman's car (irishtimes.com)
- whatA further €1.96 million of cocaine was allegedly located at Shields Automotive (irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan Grouse, 27, from Golden Lane, Dublin 8, was an apprentice mechanic (irishtimes.com)
- whatLauren Graham, 27, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin, was one of the charged (irishtimes.com)
- whatDavid Rowland, 42, of Earlsfort Vale, Lucan, Co Dublin, was an electrician and father of two (irishtimes.com)
- whatLauren Graham was observed as sole occupant in a Fiat Punto stopped at the Aldi car park on Long Mile Road at 10.30am (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Ford Transit van driven by Rowland arrived and he placed an Aldi shopping bag in the back seat footwell of Graham's car (irishtimes.com)
- whatA cardboard box containing two blocks of cocaine, each weighing a kilo, with a total estimated value of €140,000 was recovered (irishtimes.com)
- whatRowland allegedly collected the cocaine from Shields Automotive (irishtimes.com)
- whatWesley Shields, 33, has an address at Kilmartin Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe garage was rented to Shields over a 33-month lease. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShields owed rent of €19,000 and rates of €12,396. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGerry Fahy, of Beech Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, is the landlord. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seizure involved close to €2m worth of cocaine at the garage business. (rte.ie)
- whatGardaí alleged €1.96m worth of cocaine was found at the garage premises. (rte.ie)
- whatAn electrician allegedly had 2kg of cocaine worth €140,000, said to have been delivered to a co-defendant's car on the Long Mile Road. (rte.ie)
- whereThe GNDOCB searched Shields Automotive at Parklands, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12, on Tuesday (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereGraham's car was later stopped at Landen Road in Ballyfermot (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereRowland was stopped at Snugborough Road near Blanchardstown and arrested (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe garage is at Unit 13C Parkmore Industrial Estate, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe garage Shields Automotive is at Parklands, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12. (rte.ie)
- whenThe search took place on 14 February last year. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of the charging (rte.ie)
- investigationA file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (rte.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage was obtained of Rowland collecting the boxes allegedly prepared by Shields (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched Shields Automotive Garage and stopped a van and a car at two other locations. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDuring the same operation, gardaí also stopped a van and a car at two other locations. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe three men and a woman were charged with possession of cocaine and possession with intent to supply (rte.ie)
- chargeThree men and a woman were charged with possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeThree men and a woman had been charged with possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused were charged with possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply. (rte.ie)
- courtWesley Shields and Dylan Grouse were refused bail (rte.ie)
- courtLauren Graham and David Rowland were granted bail with conditions requiring €10,000 sureties (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtAll four are due to appear again before Cloverhill District Court next week (rte.ie)
- courtBail hearings took place before Judge John Brennan on Thursday (irishmirror.ie)
- courtShields and Grouse were refused bail (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four had yet to indicate pleas and would appear again in court next week (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail hearings were held before Judge John Brennan on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
- courtWesley Shields and Dylan Grouse were both arrested at the premises and refused bail (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe landlord is seeking repossession of the garage premises against Wesley Shields. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe landlord is seeking judgment in default of defence for unpaid rent and rates amounting to more than €30,000. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAn ejectment civil bill was issued against Shields trading as Shields Automotive and Recovery. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe application for repossession was being opposed by Shields' counsel. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShields was granted seven days to file a sworn and verified defence on affidavit. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe application was adjourned until early March. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment and a return for trial order was granted. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case will be listed for mention at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 6. (rte.ie)
- courtLauren Graham was previously sent forward for trial to the higher court on drugs charges over the cocaine allegedly seized on the Long Mile Road. (rte.ie)
- otherBail was set at €31,000 for Wesley Shields and €13,000 for David Rowland. (rte.ie)
- otherThe accused have yet to indicate pleas and were granted legal aid. (rte.ie)
- otherWesley Shields owned the premises but says he rented out rooms to others. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 May2024Garage owner sent forward for trial over cocaine seizure
Reports that the case was sent forward for trial, that the accused were remanded on bail, and that the Circuit Criminal Court mention is set for June 6. Also reports a separate co-defendant, Lauren Graham, sent forward earlier.
accused, Wesley Shields, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wesley Shieldsaccused, Dylan Grouse, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Grouseaccused, David Rowland, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Rowlandaccused, Lauren Graham, 27, named, irish (judged from name)Lauren Graham - 22 Feb2023Landlord of Dublin garage where €2m worth of cocaine was found seeks repossession of premises
Adds details of the civil repossession/ejectment proceedings brought by landlord Gerry Fahy against Wesley Shields for €19,000 in rent and €12,396 in rates, and confirms that the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau also stopped a van and a car at two other locations during the search operation.
accused, Wesley Shields, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wesley Shields - 16 Feb2023Four charged over cocaine seizures at garage allegedly used as processing facility
Details of bail hearings before Judge John Brennan on 16 February 2023: Wesley Shields and Dylan Grouse refused bail; Lauren Graham and David Rowland granted bail with €10,000 sureties. Evidence described the garage as a drug processing and distribution facility and the defendants as vital cogs of an organised crime group. Rowland allegedly collected cocaine from the garage. Gardaí seeking DPP direction for more serious charges.
suspect, Wesley Shields, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wesley Shieldssuspect, Dylan Grouse, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Grousesuspect, Lauren Graham, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Lauren Grahamsuspect, David Rowland, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Rowland - 16 Feb2023Four charged over €2 million cocaine haul found in Dublin mechanic's garage
Provides detailed account of the bail hearings on 16 February 2023, including the evidence that the garage was a drug processing and distribution facility, the specific locations where drugs were found, the interaction between Rowland and Graham at the Aldi car park, and bail decisions for all four defendants.
accused, Wesley Shields, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wesley Shieldsaccused, Dylan Grouse, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Grouseaccused, Lauren Graham, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Lauren Grahamaccused, David Rowland, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Rowland - 16 Feb2023Four charged over Dublin drug seizure
Reports the court appearance where all four were formally charged, bail decisions were made (Shields and Grouse refused; Graham and Rowland granted with €10,000 sureties), and notes that two other men arrested were released without charge with a file to go to the DPP.
suspect, Wesley Shields, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wesley Shieldssuspect, Dylan Grouse, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Grousesuspect, Lauren Graham, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Lauren Grahamsuspect, David Rowland, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Rowland