Ireland Case No. 6127Possession of drugs for sale or supply · Co. Limerick · 29 May 2022
Limerick man sentenced for possession of drugs for sale or supply
Charles Magill, 61, and Vincent Collopy, 43, both men, were arrested during a Garda operation on 29 May 2022 that seized €1.4 million worth of cocaine, heroin and tablets in Limerick and Clare. Magill told gardaí he was delivering drugs for unnamed criminals to pay off a drug debt his then partner had accrued, while Collopy allegedly threw a package of cocaine worth €10,500 from a car as gardaí approached. Magill pleaded guilty to 16 charges in February 2024, including two counts of possessing almost €600,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply and having €49,000 in cash. He was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 11 April 2024 to six years with the final 18 months suspended, with concurrent four-year sentences for money laundering and drug paraphernalia. Collopy, charged with impeding a garda and possession of cocaine for his own use, was remanded in continuing custody to Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 Dec
- Convicted15 Feb
- Sentenced11 Apr
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Magill and Collopy were arrested during a Garda operation that seized €1.4 million worth of cocaine, heroin and tablets.
- Magill told gardaí he was delivering drugs for unnamed criminals to pay off a drug debt his then partner had accrued.
- Collopy allegedly threw a package of cocaine worth an estimated €10,500 from the front passenger window of a Toyota Avensis as Garda Ryan Hill approached.
- Where
- Searches were carried out at Ardnacrusha in County Clare and at Knockainey and Lisnagry in Limerick, and Magill was observed delivering a drugs package in Corbally near the Clare-Limerick border.
- When
- The arrests took place on 29 May 2022, though one report dates the operation to 27 May 2022.
- Investigation
- The operation was a planned joint sweep under Operation Coronation and Operation Tara, and follow-up searches at Magill's home in Rivers, Lisnagry and a farm in Knockainey recovered cocaine, heroin, tablets and €49,000 in cash.
- Charges
- Magill pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including two counts of possessing almost €600,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply and having €49,000 in cash contrary to money laundering legislation.
- Collopy was charged with impeding or obstructing Garda Ryan Hill and with possession of cocaine for his own use.
- In court
- Magill was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in February 2024, and Collopy was remanded in continuing custody to Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in December 2022.
- Sentence
- Magill was sentenced on 11 April 2024 to six years with the final 18 months suspended, with concurrent four-year sentences for money laundering and drug paraphernalia, and €49,000 in cash was ordered forfeited to the State.
- Other details
- The judge noted Magill had no previous convictions, entered an early guilty plea, was of material assistance to gardaí, and was coerced by others involved in the organised sale and distribution of drugs in Limerick City.
61 statements extracted from the articles
- whatVincent Collopy is 43 years old (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe cocaine was worth €10,500 (limerickpost.ie)
- whatHe allegedly threw the package from the front passenger seat of a Toyota Avensis (limerickpost.ie)
- whatGarda Ryan Hill approached the car (limerickpost.ie)
- whatCharles Magill pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatCollopy allegedly threw a package of cocaine worth an estimated €10,500 from the front passenger window of a car as gardaí approached. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatMagill admitted possessing more than €500,000 of cocaine, heroin and tablets. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cocaine was possessed on the Corbally Road, near the Clare Limerick border (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe cocaine was recovered in searches at Ardnacrusha, County Clare, and at Knockainey and Lisnagry in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereGardaí observed Magill leaving a package for collection in Corbally. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereFollow-up searches were carried out at Magill's home in Rivers, Lisnagry and a farm in Knockainey. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereGardaí observed Magill deliver a drugs package at Corbally, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí observed Magill delivering a drugs package in Corbally, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGardaí observed Magill deliver a drugs package to Corbally, County Clare. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenMagill was arrested in May 2022. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe operation targeting drug sales and distribution in the city took place on 27 May 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenMagill was arrested during a garda operation on May 29, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMagill and Vincent Collopy were arrested and €1.4 million of drugs was seized on 29 May 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrests took place on 29 May 2022. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeMagill told gardaí he was delivering drugs to pay off a drug debt his then partner had accrued. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMagill told gardaí he was delivering drugs for unnamed criminals to pay off a drug debt his former partner accrued. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe searches were a planned operation that was part of a joint sweep under Operation Coronation and Operation Tara. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationHeroin, cocaine, tablets, amphetamines and cash were seized, along with scales, bags and gloves. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches of Magill's house in Lisnagry and his family farm in Knockainey recovered cocaine, heroin, tablets and €49,000 in cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches at Magill's addresses recovered cocaine, heroin, tablets and cash. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMagill and Vincent Collopy were arrested during a Garda operation that seized €1.4 million worth of drugs. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with unlawfully impeding or obstructing Garda Ryan Hill contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeHe faces a third charge of possession of cocaine for his own use contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeVincent Collopy was charged with impeding or obstructing Garda Ryan Hill in his duty arising out of the same investigation. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeMagill was before the court on 16 charge sheets relating to offences on 27 May 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMagill admitted 16 charges, including two counts of possessing almost €600,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply and having €49,000 in cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including two counts of possessing almost €600,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe also pleaded guilty to having €49,000 in cash, contrary to money laundering legislation. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMagill pleaded guilty to possessing over half a million euro worth of cocaine, heroin and tablets. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeMagill admitted 16 charges, including two counts of possessing drugs worth almost €600,000 for sale or supply. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtJudge Carol Anne Coolican gave Collopy 14 days to furnish details of any alibi witnesses (limerickpost.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to the next sittings of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court (limerickpost.ie)
- courtJudge Tom O'Donnell remanded Magill on continuing bail for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on April 11. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtMagill was jailed at Limerick Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge said Magill had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said Magill entered an early guilty plea which prevented the requirement of a lengthy trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge was satisfied that Magill's involvement did not merit a prescriptive mandatory minimum 10-year jail sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMagill entered an early guilty plea, which prevented the requirement of a lengthy trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMagill entered an early guilty plea, which prevented the need for a lengthy trial. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceMagill was jailed for six years with the final 18 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceA six-year sentence with the last 18 months suspended was imposed for having drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Rivers, Lisnagry. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent four-year sentences were imposed for possession of drugs paraphernalia and money laundering. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentence€49,000 in cash seized by gardaí was ordered forfeited to the State. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceMagill was jailed for six years with the final 18 months suspended on one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMagill agreed to enter a €100 non-lodgement bond to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for six years upon his release from jail. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to six years in prison with the final 18 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMagill was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to six years with the final 18 months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of four years were imposed for possessing €49,000 in cash deemed to be the proceeds of crime and for possessing drug paraphernalia. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherMagill told gardaí in interview that he was coerced into the offending to reduce a drug debt mainly belonging to his partner. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMagill told gardaí he was coerced by others involved in the organised sale and distribution of drugs in Limerick City. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMagill told gardaí he was delivering drugs for unnamed criminals to pay off a drug debt his partner had accrued. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMagill told gardaí he was coerced by others. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the others were involved in the organised sale and distribution of drugs in Limerick city. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMagill was seen by the drug gang as a highly trusted person. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMagill had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said Magill was of material assistance to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Apr2024Limerick farmer working for drugs gang jailed after large drugs and cash haul
Sentencing of Charles Magill at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court: six years with the final 18 months suspended, plus concurrent sentences on the other counts. The article also gives Magill's account that he was delivering drugs to pay off a former partner's debt, and that the judge described him as a second-tier manager who was likely coerced.
convicted, Charles Magill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Magillconvicted, Vincent Collopy, 44, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent Collopy - 11 Apr2024Judge jails Limerick farmer (61) ‘coerced’ into handling drugs to pay off partner’s debt
Sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court; the judge accepted Magill was coerced and of material assistance to gardaí, and he had an early guilty plea.
convicted, Charles Magill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Magill - 11 Apr2024Farmer jailed for possession and delivery of drugs to pay off debt to drugs gang
Sentencing report for Charles Magill, who was arrested during a garda operation in May 2022. The article gives his sentence and the judge's comments on his role and coercion.
convicted, Charles Magill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Magill - 11 Apr2024Man, 61, jailed for drugs seized on Limerick farm after garda raid
Sentencing report for Charles Magill. Adds the sentence, the forfeiture order, the coercion account given in garda interviews, and the seizure details. The article gives the operation date as 27 May 2022, while the existing case lists 29 May 2022.
convicted, Charles Magill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Magill - 15 Feb202460-year-old man pleads guilty to cocaine possession following €1.4million seizure in Limerick
Reports Magill's guilty plea, his remand on bail for sentencing on April 11, and a separate charge against Vincent Collopy for impeding Garda Ryan Hill in the same investigation.
convicted, Charles Magill, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Charles Magillaccused, Vincent Collopy, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent Collopy - 15 Dec2022Limerick man alleged to have tossed €10,500 of cocaine from car
Details the specific charges against Collopy, the court proceedings at Limerick District Court including service of the Book of Evidence, and his remand in continuing custody to Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
accused, Vincent Collopy, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent Collopy