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. 8465Drug importation · Co. Dublin · 7 Jun 2025

Lorry driver jailed for five years over cannabis import at Dublin Port

Andrew Cooley, a 32-year-old lorry driver, imported more than 50 kilos of cannabis through Dublin Port on 7 June 2025, when his articulated lorry was stopped and he said he had nothing to declare. He told the court he carried the drugs because of a threat from drug dealers to whom he had owed a debt, which he said had been repaid a decade earlier. He pleaded guilty before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and on 27 July 2026 Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended, so he was jailed for five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Andrew Cooley, a 32-year-old lorry driver, was jailed for five years for importing cannabis.
Where
The cannabis was imported through Dublin Port.
When
The importation took place on 7 June 2025.
Investigation
The articulated lorry was stopped at the port and Cooley said he had nothing to declare.
Cause
Cooley said he carried the drugs because of a threat from drug dealers to whom he had owed a debt, which he said had been repaid a decade earlier.
Charges
Cooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50 kilos of cannabis at Dublin Port.
In court
Cooley appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the sentence was handed down on 27 July 2026.
Sentence
Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended.
Other details
  • The case file gives the drugs a street value of €1,007,000, the article text says more than a million euro, and the headline says €500,000.
  • Cooley, of Ballyoran, Dundalk, Co. Louth, had eight previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters.
  • Cooley had been clean of drugs since 2016.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA lorry driver was jailed for five years for importing cannabis through Dublin Port. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was imported through Dublin Port. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe importation was on 7 June 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeCooley said he transported the drugs because of a threat from drug dealers he had previously owed a debt to. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe articulated lorry was stopped at the port and Cooley said he had nothing to declare. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtCooley pleaded guilty to importing more than 50 kilos of cannabis. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan imposed a seven-year sentence with the final 24 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe drugs had a street value of €1,007,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherCooley had eight previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherCooley had been clean of drugs since 2016. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jul2026
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Louth lorry driver who imported €500k of drugs jailed for five years

    Reports the sentencing of Andrew Cooley, including the plea, the sentence, the value of the drugs, his reason for carrying them and his previous convictions.

    convicted, Andrew Cooley, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Cooley