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. 9833Drugs possession, driving without insurance or licence, and refusing a blood specimen · Co. Kilkenny · 9 Apr 2023

Kilkenny man jailed for drugs and motoring offences

Declan Foley, a man from Kilkenny, was stopped at a Garda checkpoint on College Road in Kilkenny City on April 9, 2023. Gardaí reported smelling cannabis in the car and finding 30g of it, worth €400, in the glove box. He was charged with drugs possession, driving without insurance or a licence, and refusing to give a blood specimen, and he pleaded guilty to all three. On April 30, 2026, Kilkenny District Court jailed him for five months for the motoring and specimen offences and disqualified him from driving for eight years, with a further five-month sentence for the cannabis possession.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Declan Foley, a man from Kilkenny, was stopped at a Garda checkpoint.
  • Gardaí reported a strong smell of cannabis from the car.
  • A search found 30g of cannabis, worth €400, in the glove box.
  • Mr Foley refused to give a specimen at Kilkenny Garda Station and kept moving his arms when a doctor tried to take a blood sample.
Where
The checkpoint was on College Road in Kilkenny City.
When
The checkpoint was operating on April 9, 2023.
Other details
  • Mr Foley was a disqualified driver at the time of the refusal offence.
  • Mr Foley said the cannabis was for his own use and has previous convictions, including one for failing to give a specimen in August 2025.
  • His solicitor apologised on his behalf and said he has a significant alcohol addiction, and he is now getting help and hopes to take up a residential treatment place.
Charges
Mr Foley pleaded guilty to drugs possession, driving without insurance or a licence, and refusing to give a blood specimen.
In court
The case was heard at Kilkenny District Court, where the judge described his earlier convictions and offences as extremely aggravating factors and said getting behind the wheel in that state was unacceptable.
Sentence
  • For driving without insurance and refusing a specimen, Mr Foley was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for eight years.
  • A separate five-month sentence was imposed for possession of cannabis.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMr Foley was stopped at the checkpoint. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatGardaí smelled cannabis in the car and found 30g of cannabis, worth €400, in the glove box. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr Foley refused to give a specimen at Kilkenny Garda Station. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr Foley kept moving his arms when a doctor tried to take a blood sample. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe checkpoint was on College Road in Kilkenny City. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenGardaí were operating a checkpoint on April 9, 2023. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeDeclan Foley pleaded guilty to drugs possession, driving without insurance or a licence, and refusing to give a blood specimen. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe article reports the case was heard at Kilkenny District Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the earlier convictions and offences as extremely aggravating factors. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe judge said getting behind the wheel in that state was unacceptable. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceFor driving without insurance and refusing to give a specimen, Mr Foley was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for eight years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceA five-month sentence was imposed for possession of cannabis. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr Foley said the cannabis was for his own use. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr Foley was a disqualified driver at the time of the refusal offence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr Foley had previous convictions, including one for failing to give a specimen in August 2025. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor apologised on his behalf and said he has a significant addiction to alcohol. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr Foley is now getting help and hopes to take up a residential treatment place. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Apr2026
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    ‘Unacceptable’ to get behind the wheel drunk - Kilkenny man jailed for motoring offences

    Reports the sentencing at Kilkenny District Court, including the five-month jail term, the eight-year disqualification and the judge's remarks on the aggravating factors.

    convicted, Declan Foley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Foley