Wednesday 28 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. 4906Drug trafficking (importation of cocaine)

Maintenance of MV Matthew in record drugs haul case costing €100,000 a week

Lawyers for the State told the Special Criminal Court that preserving the cargo ship MV Matthew costs €100,000 a week and that the State will seek a declaration ending that preservation. The trial of eight accused over the 2.2-tonne cocaine seizure is expected to begin in January.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe State's maintenance of the MV Matthew costs €100,000 per week. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRangers and customs agents seized 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €157 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe MV Matthew was boarded by the Rangers in September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe State will apply next month for a declaration that preserving the ship is no longer required. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe State has preserved the vessel to protect the fair trial rights of eight men accused of offences relating to the drug seizure. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe ship was formally forfeit to the State on 19 November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial of the eight accused is expected to take four months and to begin in January. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court adjourned the matter to 4 November. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe eight accused viewed the hearing by video-link from prison. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Oct2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Maintenance of MV Matthew, the ship at centre of record drugs haul case, is costing €100,000 per-week

    Procedural hearing in the Special Criminal Court on the preservation of the MV Matthew, which was boarded by the Rangers in September 2023 and found to contain 2.2 tonnes of cocaine. The article adds the ship's maintenance cost, the planned application to end preservation, the forfeiture date and the adjournment to November 4th.

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