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. 7770Drug trafficking (possession of cannabis and ecstasy for sale or supply) · Co. Dublin · 23 May 2013

Gangster Stephen Carberry jailed over €1.5m drugs seizure in Dublin

Stephen Carberry, a 45-year-old man, was convicted after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale or supply at The Strand, Donabate, County Dublin, on 23 May 2013, when gardaí found 27.9kg of cannabis and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets. He was charged in 2014 and refused bail. In July 2023, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to nine years with the final 12 months suspended, and after credit for more than 360 days in custody and backdating to April, the total term is about six years and 10 months. At the latest report, he remains under investigation over alleged logistical help to the gang behind the killing of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods, and a file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions awaiting directions.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stephen Carberry, a 45-year-old man, was convicted of five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale or supply.
  • Sources also describe the offence as possessing cocaine and ecstasy worth more than €1.5 million.
Where
The offences took place at The Strand, Donabate, County Dublin.
When
The offences took place on 23 May 2013.
Investigation
  • Gardaí had Carberry under surveillance and saw his car stop at the property.
  • Gardaí found 27.9kg of cannabis and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets during a search of the property.
  • Carberry remains under investigation over alleged logistical help to the gang behind the killing of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods, and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, which has not yet given directions.
Charges
  • Carberry was charged in 2014 and refused bail.
  • Carberry was later re-charged in relation to this case.
In court
The conviction followed a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with sources giving April as the trial month and saying he was found guilty last month.
Sentence
  • Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of 11 years and then jailed Carberry for nine years with the final 12 months suspended.
  • After credit for more than 360 days in custody and backdating to April, the total term is about six years and 10 months.
Other details
  • Carberry has 62 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters.
  • The judge treated Carberry's refusal to accept the jury's verdict as an aggravating factor, and reduced the sentence for the time since charge and his lack of previous convictions.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCarberry was jailed for just under seven years after being convicted of possessing more than €1.5 million worth of cocaine and ecstasy. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí found 27.9kg of cannabis and over 96,000 ecstasy tablets during a search of the property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at The Strand, Donabate. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA house in The Strand, Donabate was raided. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on May 23rd, 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe drugs offences took place on 23 May 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí had Carberry under surveillance and saw his car stop at the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found 27.9kg of cannabis and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets at the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCarberry remains under investigation over giving assistance to gang members after the teenager was killed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigators have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on Carberry but have not yet received directions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCarberry was convicted of five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCarberry was charged in 2014 and refused bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCarberry was later re-charged in relation to this case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe conviction followed a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCarberry was found guilty last month of five charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge initially set a headline sentence of 11 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Sheahan sentenced Carberry to nine years with the final 12 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCredit was given for more than 360 days already served in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to April, giving a total term of about six years and 10 months. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan jailed Carberry to nine years with the final 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCredit for over 360 days in custody was given, and the sentence was backdated to April, giving a total term of about six years and ten months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCarberry has 62 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge treated Carberry's refusal to accept the jury's verdict as an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge reduced the sentence because of the time since charge and his lack of previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said Carberry was trusted and not an insignificant cog in the drugs operation. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jul2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Thug under investigation over alleged role in aftermath of Mulready Woods murder

    Reports the sentencing of Stephen Carberry and says he remains under investigation over alleged help given to the gang behind the Mulready Woods killing; a file has been sent to the DPP.

    convicted, Stephen Carberry, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Carberry
  2. 26 Jul2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man found with cocaine and ecstasy worth €1.5m jailed for seven years

    Reports the sentencing of Stephen Carberry after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. No existing case in the list matches this 2013 offence and sentencing.

    convicted, Stephen Carberry, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Carberry