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. 8954Drug trafficking · Co. Louth · 4 Feb 2025

Lithuanian man jailed for cannabis sale offence in Dunleer, Louth

Renaldas Talocka (54), a Lithuanian man, was arrested after gardai raided a cannabis growhouse at his then address on Barn Road, Dunleer, County Louth, where the offence took place on 4 February 2025. Sixty cannabis plants and over 6kg of harvested material were seized, with the drugs recovered valued at over €170,000. He pleaded guilty to having over €13,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, and on 23 June 2026 Judge Dara Hayes at Dundalk Circuit Court jailed him for three years and three months, backdated to when he went into custody. The latest development is that the High Court has directed he be handed over to Northern Ireland authorities when this sentence expires, over alleged similar offending and a firearm possession.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Renaldas Talocka (54), a Lithuanian man, pleaded guilty to having over €13,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply.
Where
The offence took place at his then address at Barn Road, Dunleer, County Louth.
When
The offence took place on 4 February 2025.
Investigation
  • He was arrested after a garda raid on a cannabis growhouse in County Louth.
  • Sixty cannabis plants were found in an upstairs room, and two downstairs bedrooms had been converted into cultivation units.
  • Over 6kg of harvested material was seized from the property.
  • The drugs recovered had a total value of over €170,000.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to having over €13,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply.
In court
The case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court, where Judge Dara Hayes handled the sentencing.
Sentence
  • On 23 June 2026 he was jailed for three years and three months, backdated to when he went into custody.
  • The judge said there was no basis to suspend any portion of the sentence.
Other details
  • The court heard he had been in Ireland for only four days when arrested and told gardai he had arrived in Dublin for a job making furniture.
  • He denied being involved in cultivating the plants, and the court heard he had spent 26 to 28 years in custody in Lithuania.
  • The High Court has directed he be handed over to Northern Ireland authorities when this sentence expires, over alleged similar offending and a firearm possession.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe offence was at his then address at Barn Road, Dunleer. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 4 February 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested after a garda raid on a cannabis growhouse in County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationSixty cannabis plants were found in an upstairs room. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationOver 6kg of harvested material was seized from the property. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs recovered had a total value of over €170,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to having over €13,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Dara Hayes jailed him for three years and three months. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when he went into custody. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said there was no basis to suspend any portion of the sentence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe court heard he had been in Ireland for only four days when arrested. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherHe told gardai he had arrived in Dublin for a job making furniture. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherHe denied being involved in cultivating the plants. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe court heard he had spent 26 to 28 years in custody in Lithuania. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jun2026
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Lithuanian convicted killer jailed over drug offence in Louth

    Court report of sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court. The article also says the High Court has directed that he be handed over to Northern Ireland authorities over alleged similar offending and a firearm possession when this sentence expires.

    convicted, Renaldas Talocka, 54, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishRenaldas Talocka