Ireland Case No. 0797Unlawful possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis for sale or supply · Co. Louth · 12 May 2025
Louth farmer sentenced to 10 years over cannabis possession
On 12 May 2025, a controlled delivery of a pallet containing over 81kg of cannabis with a street value of €1.6 million was made to the property of John Prendergast, a 54-year-old farmer at Mill Park, Knockbridge, Co Louth, as part of a joint Revenue and Garda operation. Prendergast was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply, and he pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court. The jury found he had possession in the legal sense. In June 2026, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced him to 10 years for the section 15a offence, with concurrent sentences of nine years and four and a half years for the other counts.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested12 May
3 reports - Charged13 May
2 reports - In court12 May
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Jun
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A controlled delivery of a pallet containing over 81kg of cannabis in 18 vacuum-packed bags was made to a property in Co Louth as part of a joint Revenue and Garda operation.
- The cannabis had a street value of €1,624,900, with initial reports estimating the value at €1.8 million.
- Where
- The property was at Mill Park, Knockbridge, Co Louth.
- When
- The seizure and arrest took place on 12 May 2025.
- Investigation
- The pallet had been intercepted at Dublin Port three days before delivery and was shipped by a textiles company with an address in Amsterdam.
- The operation was a joint one by Revenue's Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and the Louth Divisional Drugs Unit.
- Charges
- John Prendergast, a 54-year-old farmer (reports differ: 53), was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, having the drug for sale or supply, and having cannabis with an aggregate market value above €13,000 for sale or supply under section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- In court
- He pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court, and the jury found he had possession in the legal sense.
- Sentence
- In June 2026, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced him to 10 years for the section 15a offence, with concurrent sentences of nine years for having cannabis for sale or supply and four and a half years for unlawful possession, with credit for time in custody.
- Other details
- Prendergast had 22 previous convictions, including 11 under the Road Traffic Act and seven for Revenue offences.
- In interview, Prendergast denied any knowledge of the drugs and claimed he thought the pallet contained air filters.
82 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí and Revenue seized €1.8 million worth of cannabis in a joint operation. (garda.ie)
- whatApproximately 90kgs of herbal cannabis was seized (garda.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €1.8 million (garda.ie)
- whatOne male in his 50s was arrested (garda.ie)
- whatA man has been arrested after €1.8m worth of herbal cannabis was seized in Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- whatAround 90kg of cannabis was discovered. (rte.ie)
- whatRevenue officers seized approximately 90 kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €1.8m. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested and detained at a Co Louth Garda station (irishtimes.com)
- whatA 53-year-old farmer was charged over an alleged €1.8 million drug seizure in Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- whatAround 90kg of cannabis was seized. (rte.ie)
- whatThe pallet contained over 81kg of cannabis. (rte.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had a street value of €1,624,900. (rte.ie)
- whatThe pallet had been shipped by a textiles company with an address in Amsterdam. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe shipping label was addressed to John P Ballina Creations c/o John Prendergast Stores, Mill Park, Knockbridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant accepted delivery and used a forklift truck to move the pallet from the lorry into a shed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pallet contained more than 81kg of cannabis in 18 vacuum-packed bags. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated street value of more than €1.6 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen interviewed, the defendant denied any knowledge of the drugs and claimed he thought the pallet contained air filters. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pallet contained over 81kg of cannabis with a street value of €1,624,900. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe man was arrested in Co Louth. (garda.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in Co Louth (garda.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe accused lives at Mill Park, Knockbridge, Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- whereThe defendant had an address at Mill Park, Knockbridge. (rte.ie)
- whereThe pallet had been intercepted at Dublin Port three days before delivery. (rte.ie)
- whereThe offence concerned a property at Mill Park, Knockbridge, Co Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe seizure and arrest took place on 12 May 2025. (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 12 May 2025 (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on 12 May 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe cannabis was seized on Monday, 12 May 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence occurred on 12 May 2025. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe delivery was made three days after the drug haul was intercepted at Dublin Port. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe possession offences were alleged to have taken place on 12 May 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe pallet was delivered shortly after midday, three days after it was intercepted at Dublin Port. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was the result of a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Louth Divisional Drugs Unit. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis and investigations remain ongoing. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was an intelligence-led operation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was a joint operation by Revenue's Customs Service, the GNDOCB and the Louth Divisional Drugs Unit. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested one male, in his 50s. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of an intelligence-led operation by Revenue, the GNDOCB and the Louth Divisional Drugs Unit. (rte.ie)
- investigationA joint customs and garda operation made a controlled delivery of a pallet to the property. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí found no evidence of Ballina Creations. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe delivery was a controlled delivery made as part of a joint customs and garda operation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeThe man in his 50s has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man was detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act of 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man has been charged (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply at Mill Park, Knockbridge. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis and to having it for sale or supply. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe also denied having cannabis for sale or supply with an aggregate market value above €13,000. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was also charged with having cannabis with an aggregate market value of more than €13,000 for sale or supply under section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe had pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis and having cannabis for sale or supply at the same address. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtHe is expected to appear before Dundalk District Court on 13 May 2025. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man was expected to appear before Dundalk District Court on the morning of Tuesday 13 May 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before Dundalk District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was brought before Dundalk District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtHe made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution. (rte.ie)
- courtHe had 22 previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury found he had possession in the legal sense of the word. (rte.ie)
- courtHe pleaded not guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes finalised the case on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was jailed for 10 years at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceHe was remanded in custody to appear before Drogheda District Court the following Monday. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was given a 10-year sentence for the Section 15a offence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of nine years and four and a half years were imposed for the other offences. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 10 years for the section 15a offence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of nine years for having cannabis for sale or supply and 4½ years for unlawful possession were also imposed. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was directed to be given credit for time spent in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe received a 10-year sentence for the Section 15a offence, with concurrent sentences of nine years for having cannabis for sale or supply and four and a half years for unlawful possession. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA man in his 50s was arrested and detained at a garda station in the county under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act. (rte.ie)
- otherThe man was detained at a Garda station in Co. Louth under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defendant accepted delivery and used a forklift to move the pallet into a shed. (rte.ie)
- otherIn interview he denied knowing about the drugs and said he thought the pallet held air filters. (rte.ie)
- otherJohn Prendergast, 54, is a farmer from Mill Park, Knockbridge, Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPrendergast had 22 previous convictions, including 11 under the Road Traffic Act and seven for Revenue offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe is the principal carer for his mother and a brother with additional needs. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant accepted delivery of the pallet and used a forklift truck to move it into a shed. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherWhen interviewed, he denied any knowledge of the drugs and claimed he thought the pallet contained air filters. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherHe had 22 previous convictions, including 11 under the Road Traffic Act and seven Revenue offences. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jun2026Louth farmer jailed for 10 years over €1.6m drug seizure
Reports the sentencing of John Prendergast at Dundalk Circuit Court, the cannabis seizure details, the controlled delivery, his previous convictions and his claim that he thought the pallet contained air filters.
convicted, John Prendergast, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Prendergast - 17 Jun2026Farmer who claimed to be ‘squeaky clean’ when questioned about cannabis haul jailed for 10 years
Sentencing article: Prendergast received 10 years for the section 15a offence with concurrent sentences of nine years and 4½ years for the other two counts. He had 22 previous convictions and claimed he thought the pallet contained air filters.
convicted, John Prendergast, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Prendergast - 16 Jun2026'Squeaky clean' farmer jailed over €1.6m drug seizure
Reports the Dundalk Circuit Court sentence of 10 years, the controlled delivery operation, the seizure details and the defendant's previous convictions and mitigation.
convicted, John Prendergast, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Prendergast - 13 May2025Man charged over €1.8m drug seizure in Co Louth
Adds the charges, the court appearance at Dundalk District Court, the seizure value of €1.8 million, and remand in custody to Drogheda District Court. Gives the age as 53.
accused, John Prendergast, 53, named, irish (judged from name)John Prendergast - 13 May2025Man (50s) due to appear in court in connection with €1.8m cannabis seizure
Reports the seizure of 90kgs of herbal cannabis worth €1.8m in Co Louth and the charging of a man in his 50s, who is due to appear at Dundalk District Court.
suspect, 50s, male - 13 May2025Man in his 50s arrest as almost 100 kilos of cannabis seized worth €1.8 million in Louth
Adds the arrest of a man in his 50s, the seizure details (about 90 kgs of herbal cannabis worth €1.8m, though the headline says 100 kilos), the joint operation, and the expected court appearance at Dundalk District Court on 13 May 2025.
suspect, 50s, male - 12 May2025Man held after €1.8m worth of cannabis seized in Co Louth
RTÉ report on the same Louth cannabis seizure. It adds that the operation was a joint one by Revenue's Customs Service, the GNDOCB and the Louth Divisional Drugs Unit, and that the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 50s, male - 12 May2025Joint Operation - Gardaí and Revenue Seize €1.8m Cannabis, Man arrested in Co. Louth – 12th May 2025
Garda press release confirming the arrest and detailing the joint operation involving Revenue's Customs Service, GNDOCB and Louth Divisional Drugs Unit; drugs to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland.
suspect, 50s, male - 12 May2025Court Appearance - Joint Operation - Gardaí and Revenue Seize €1.8m Cannabis, Man arrested in Co. Louth – 12th May 2025
Confirms the man's court appearance at Dundalk District Court on 13 May 2025.
suspect, 50s, male