Friday 30 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. 14522Possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of pepper spray, possession of proceeds of crime · Co. Longford

Longford man pleads guilty to cannabis, pepper spray and cash charges; sentence adjourned

Bart Scally (44), a man of Cleraun, Newtowncashel, Longford, was charged after a Garda search of his south Longford home on July 24, 2023, which found cannabis, cash and a canister of pepper spray. He was charged in December 2024 with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of pepper spray and possession of cash knowing it was the proceeds of crime. In January 2025 he was arraigned at Longford Circuit Criminal Court, admitted the cannabis charge and was granted bail. Reports in February 2025 said he had pleaded guilty to all three charges, and the case was adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court for sentence, with the judge saying a custodial sentence was unlikely to be avoided.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Dec
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Bart Scally (44), of Cleraun, Newtowncashel, Longford, is the man named in the case.
When
The offences are alleged to have occurred on July 24, 2023 at his home address.
Where
Gardaí carried out a search operation at his home in south Longford.
Investigation
  • A search of his home under warrant found cannabis worth €3,398 in three separate locations.
  • The search found cash in a tin in a press, reported as €14,650 in one source and as over €14,000 in another.
  • Gardaí found a tick list under the defendant's mattress.
  • The prosecution was delayed while the State awaited a certificate from Forensic Science Ireland.
Weapon
A canister of pepper spray was found, and reports describe it as an offensive weapon.
Charges
He was charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of a canister of pepper spray, and possession of cash of €16,250 knowing it was the proceeds of crime.
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 the list.
  • The defendant has 23 previous convictions, most of them for road traffic matters, and the defence said his guilty plea gave significant material assistance to the prosecution.
In court
  • The prosecution sought a return for trial on January 14, 2025 in the Circuit Court, and the State did not object to bail on the same conditions as before.
  • He was arraigned at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in January 2025, admitted the cannabis charge, and the case was adjourned to January 28, 2025.
  • Reports in February 2025 said he pleaded guilty to all three charges at Longford Circuit Court.
Sentence
The case was adjourned to Tullamore Circuit Court for sentence, and the judge said it was unlikely he would escape a custodial sentence.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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 charges relate to July 24, 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe offence occurred on July 24, 2023. (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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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
  1. 19 Feb2025
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford 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
  2. 22 Jan2025
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford 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
  3. 17 Dec2024
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford 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