Ireland Case No. 14522Possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of pepper spray, possession of proceeds of crime · Co. Longford
Longford man adjourned for sentence over cannabis possession
Gardaí carried out a search operation at the home of Bart Scally, a man aged 43 (reports differ: 44), in Cleraun, Newtowncashel, County Longford, on the morning of 24 July 2023, finding cannabis, a canister of pepper spray, and cash. Scally was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of pepper spray, and possession of cash knowing it was the proceeds of crime. He pleaded guilty to all three charges at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in January 2025. The case was adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court for sentence, with the judge indicating a custodial sentence was unlikely to be avoided.
- Reported25 Jul
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court26 Jul
6 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A garda search operation at a home in south Longford found cannabis, a canister of pepper spray, and cash.
- Where
- The search took place at Cleraun, Newtowncashel, County Longford.
- When
- The search operation took place on the morning of Monday 24 July 2023.
- Investigation
- A search under warrant found cannabis worth €3,398 in three separate locations, cash in a tin in a press (reported as €14,650 or €16,250), and a tick list under the defendant's mattress.
- Charges
- Bart Scally was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of a canister of pepper spray, and possession of cash knowing it was the proceeds of crime.
- In court
- Scally first appeared at Longford District Court on 25 June 2023 following the raid.
- The case was adjourned multiple times while the prosecution awaited a certificate of analysis from Forensic Science Ireland.
- Scally pleaded guilty to all three charges at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in January 2025.
- The case was adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court for sentence.
- Other details
- The prosecutor said the tick list indicated transactions totalling €120,000, while the defence said there was no evidence linking the defendant to it.
- The defendant had 23 previous convictions, most for road traffic matters.
- The judge indicated it was unlikely the defendant would escape a custodial sentence.
67 statements extracted from the articles
- whatOfficers from Longford garda station seized more than €16,000 in cash. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA Longford man was charged with possession of cannabis following a garda search operation in south Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe search operation took place in Newtowncashel, County Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereScally is of Cleraun, Newtowncashel, Co Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereBart Scally is of Cleraun, Newtowncashel, Co Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe garda search operation took place in south Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereBart Scally, 44, lives at Cleraun, Newtowncashel, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereGardaí carried out a search operation in south Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe charges followed a Garda search operation in south Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on the morning of Monday 24 July 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe garda search operation took place on a Monday. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenScally first appeared in court on June 25 after a garda raid the day before. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenHe first appeared in court on June 25 following a garda raid the previous day. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe charges relate to July 24, 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred on July 24, 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí are continuing to investigate the circumstances behind the discovery of the cash. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationNo arrests have been made. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA line of inquiry is being pursued. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA garda search operation in south Longford found a cache of drugs. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationScally was charged over drugs found during a garda search operation in south Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution expected a lengthy adjournment because the seized drugs needed to be analysed. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution was still awaiting a certificate of analysis from Forensic Science Ireland. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí carried out a search operation at his south Longford home. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution was delayed while the State awaited a certificate from Forensic Science Ireland. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA search of his home under warrant found cannabis worth €3,398 in three separate locations. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe search found €14,650 in cash in a tin in a press. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí found a tick list under the defendant's mattress. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeScally was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for sale and supply. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for sale and supply. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe is also charged with possession of a canister of pepper spray. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with possessing cash of €16,250 knowing it was the proceeds of crime. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeScally was charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of a canister of pepper spray, and possession of cash knowing it was the proceeds of crime. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeBart Scally pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possession of a canister of pepper spray. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possessing cash totalling €16,250 knowing it was the proceeds of crime. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally appeared at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe State objected to bail on a number of grounds. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally was remanded in custody with consent to bail subject to conditions. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe bail conditions included a €3,000 surety, with €1,500 in cash. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally was ordered to observe a 10pm to 6am curfew. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally was ordered to appear by video link at Longford District Court the following Monday. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtAt a contested bail hearing, Scally said he had a €400 drugs debt and was addicted to smoking cannabis. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtDespite garda objection, Judge Owens granted bail with conditions, including a €3,000 independent surety. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtConditions included a €3,000 independent surety, €1,500 of it in cash, approved by the court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally was remanded on continuing bail to December 5 for directions from the DPP. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe bail hearing was before Judge Bernadette Owens. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case had a further adjournment. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the defendant on bail until May 21, 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case will be heard in Longford Circuit Criminal Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe prosecution sought a return for trial on January 14, 2025 in the Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe State did not object to bail on the same conditions as before. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge warned him that he must inform the prosecution within 14 days if he intends to rely on an alibi. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe matter first appeared in court on June 25 of the previous year, after the Garda raid the day before. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtScally was arraigned at the Longford Circuit Criminal Court and admitted having cannabis for sale or supply. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until January 28, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court for sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge said it was unlikely the defendant would escape a custodial sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherGardaí said approximately €16,250 in cash was seized. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherScally said he had fallen foul of a €400 drugs debt and was addicted to smoking cannabis. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherBail conditions included a 10pm to 6am curfew and signing on at Longford garda station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherScally said he fell foul of a €400 drugs debt and was addicted to smoking cannabis. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherScally was released on bail the week before the report. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe prosecutor said the tick list indicated transactions totalling €120,000. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defence said there was no evidence linking the defendant to the tick list. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defendant had 23 previous convictions, most of them for road traffic matters. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defence said the guilty plea gave significant material assistance to the prosecution. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2025Longford man who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and had over €14,000 cash in a tin 'unlikely' to escape prison
Plea of guilty entered at Longford Circuit Court; sentence adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court. Details of the tick list, the cash and the defendant's background are added.
accused, Bart Scally, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 22 Jan2025Longford man pleads guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply
Adds that Scally was arraigned and admitted the cannabis charge at Longford Circuit Criminal Court, that he was released on bail, and that the case was adjourned to January 28, 2025. Also states the search was about a year and a half before the report.
accused, Bart Scally, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 17 Dec2024Longford Man charged following Garda raid
Adds that the case will be heard in Longford Circuit Criminal Court, that the prosecution sought a return for trial on January 14, 2025, that the cash is stated as €16,250 (existing record says €14,650), and that the prosecution was delayed awaiting a certificate from Forensic Science Ireland.
accused, Bart Scally, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 21 Mar2024Prosecution awaiting forensic certificate in case of Longford man charged with possession of cannabis
Adds that the prosecution is still awaiting the FSI certificate, that the judge marked the file as time passing, that Scally is 43, and that he was remanded on bail until May 21, 2024. It also gives his explanation of a €400 drugs debt and cannabis addiction.
accused, Bart Scally, 43, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 21 Aug2023Longford District Court: Man takes up bail after court approves €3k independent surety
Covers the bail stage: surety lodged on July 31, bail conditions (curfew, signing on, contact by phone), and the next court date of December 5 for DPP directions. Adds that the State and defence expect a lengthy adjournment because the drugs needed analysis.
accused, Bart Scally, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 26 Jul2023Man (40s) appears in court over Longford garda drugs raid
Bail hearing report: Scally was remanded in custody with consent to bail on conditions including a €3,000 surety, a 10pm to 6am curfew and reporting to Longford garda station, and was due to appear by video link the following Monday. The article gives his age as 43, and the case record says 44 with one report saying 43.
accused, Bart Scally, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bart Scally - 25 Jul2023BREAKING: Gardaí seize over €16k in cash in south Longford search operation
Initial report of the cash seizure, with the garda spokesperson's statement giving the amount and confirming no arrests.