Saturday 31 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. 20684Cultivating cannabis plants · Co. Louth · 9 Jun 2017

Lithuanian man jailed for cannabis growhouse in Hackballscross, Co Louth

Gardaí executing a search warrant at a house at Rassan, Hackballscross, Co Louth, on 9 June 2017 reported a strong smell of cannabis and found 92 fully mature cannabis plants in an upstairs grow house, with drugs seized worth over €87,000. Mantas Telvikas (42), a Lithuanian national, was found hiding in a bathroom trying to break up two mobile phones. He was extradited from Iceland to face charges and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants. He was sentenced to two years and five months at Dundalk Circuit Court, backdated to 9 May 2022 to reflect time in custody, and the sentence was reported on 15 June 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Mantas Telvikas pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivating cannabis plants.
Where
The cultivation took place at a property at Rassan, Hackballscross, Co Louth.
When
  • The offence took place on 9 June 2017.
  • The sentencing took place the week before the case was reported on 15 June 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí smelled cannabis as they arrived at the house to execute a search warrant.
  • The blinds were pulled and the roof lights blacked out at the property.
  • Ninety-two fully mature cannabis plants were found in the grow house upstairs.
  • The defendant was found hiding in a bathroom trying to break up two mobile phones.
  • The total street value of the drugs seized was over €87,000.
Other details
  • Mantas Telvikas, aged 42, is a Lithuanian national who was extradited from Iceland to face charges.
  • The defendant had no previous convictions in this jurisdiction.
In court
The defendant was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • The defendant was sentenced to two years and five months.
  • The sentence was backdated to 9 May 2022 to reflect time already spent in custody.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMantas Telvikas pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivating cannabis plants. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe cultivation took place at a property at Rassan, Hackballscross. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 9 June 2017. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationGardaí smelled cannabis as they arrived at the house to execute a search warrant. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationNinety-two fully mature cannabis plants were found in the grow house upstairs. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was found hiding in a bathroom trying to break up two mobile phones. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe total street value of the drugs seized was over €87,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was sentenced to two years and five months at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 9 May 2022 to reflect time already spent in custody. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is a Lithuanian national who was extradited from Iceland to face charges. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had no previous convictions in this jurisdiction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jun2023
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk Court: Man jailed for cultivating cannabis plants in growhouse

    First report of this case. Covers the guilty plea and sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court, with details of the search and the judge's reasoning.

    convicted, Mantas Telvikas, 42, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishMantas Telvikas