Ireland Judge orders return of over €7,000 seized in Longford garda raid
Gardaí raided numbers 1 to 5 Richmond Court in Longford town under a search warrant about 12 months before a court ruling, seizing cash reported as over €7,000 or about €7,300, along with bags of suspected cannabis and cocaine. The applicants for the return of the cash were Joe Doyle, Darren Doyle and Joe Mears, all of Richmond Court, Longford, and Joe Doyle has since died. Joe Mears had pleaded guilty last year to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Danestown, Balrath, Navan, Co Meath, in September 2017. After several adjournments for forensic analysis, Judge John Brennan at Athlone District Court ordered the cash returned because the State failed to prove the suspected drugs were illegal, a ruling reported on 10 May 2023. Joe Mears is due to be sentenced at Longford Circuit Criminal Court the following week.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized cash reported as over €7,000 in one account and about €7,300 in another.
- Where
- The cash was seized during a raid at numbers 1 to 5 Richmond Court, Longford town, carried out under a search warrant.
- When
- The raid took place almost 12 months before the court ruling.
- Investigation
- Bags containing suspected cannabis and suspected cocaine were also seized during the raid.
- The State accepted that gardaí had no warrant to search number 7, where the alleged drugs were found.
- Cause
- Concerns were raised about the validity of the search warrant used in the operation.
- In court
- The case was adjourned several times so the suspected drugs could undergo forensic analysis.
- Judge John Brennan affirmed the order at Athlone District Court on an application by Joe Doyle, Darren Doyle and Joe Mears.
- The State failed to prove the suspected drugs were illegal, and the judge ordered the cash returned to the applicants.
- Charges
- Joe Mears pleaded guilty last year to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Danestown, Balrath, Navan, Co Meath, in September 2017.
- Sentence
- Joe Mears is due to be sentenced at Longford Circuit Criminal Court the following week.
- Other details
- Joe Doyle had died since the matter was first listed.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA judge returned over €7,000 after the State failed to prove the suspected drugs were illegal. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe cash was seized during a raid at a premises in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe search was carried out at numbers 1 to 5 Richmond Court, Longford, under a warrant. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe raid took place almost 12 months before the order. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe court had heard concerns about the validity of the search warrant used in the operation. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationApproximately €7,300 in cash was seized, along with bags containing suspected cannabis and cocaine. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationConcerns were raised over the validity of the search warrant used in the operation. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe State accepted that gardaí had no warrant to search number 7, where the alleged drugs were found. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí seized about €7,300 in cash, along with ziplock bags containing herb and suspected cocaine. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtA court ordered the return of over €7,000 in cash seized during a raid. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtJudge John Brennan affirmed the order at a sitting of Athlone District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe State failed to prove that the suspected drugs were illegal. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned several times so the suspected drugs could undergo forensic analysis. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtJudge John Brennan affirmed the order at Athlone District Court on an application by Joe Doyle, Darren Doyle and Joe Mears. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge found in favour of the applicants and ordered the return of the money to both parties. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge found in favour of the applicants and ordered the money returned to both parties. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherJoe Doyle, Darren Doyle and Joe Mears applied for the return of the money. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherJoe Doyle had died since the matter was first listed. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherJoe Mears pleaded guilty last year to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Danestown, Balrath, Navan, in September 2017. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 May2023Judge orders that cash seized during garda raid in Midlands be returned
Court ruling returning cash seized in a Longford garda raid about 12 months before the article. Joe Doyle has died since the matter was first listed. Joe Mears pleaded guilty last year to a separate 2017 drugs offence at Navan and is due to be sentenced.
convicted, Joe Mears, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Mearssuspect, Joe Doyle, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Doylesuspect, Darren Doyle, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Doyle - 10 May2023Judge orders that €7,000 seized during Longford garda raid to be returned
Names the applicants (Joe Doyle, Darren Doyle, Joe Mears) and the judge. Gives the grounds for the ruling: the State failed to prove the drugs were illegal, and there were concerns over the search warrant. Reports that Joe Doyle had died since the matter was first listed.
suspect, Joe Doyle, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Doylesuspect, Darren Doyle, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Doylesuspect, Joe Mears, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Mears