Sunday 1 November 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. 13709Drug trafficking (heroin) · Co. Dublin · 5 Aug 2020

Man appeals conviction for heroin importation in Dublin

On 5 August 2020, gardaí intercepted a controlled delivery of €2.769 million worth of heroin at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, involving Andrew Noonan, a man aged 45 (reports differ: 47), and Keith Quinn, a man aged 36 (reports differ: 37). Quinn pleaded guilty in 2021 and received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years with 18 months suspended, and has since been released. Noonan was convicted after trial of three drugs offences and possession of a phone with the Enigma encrypted application, and was sentenced to 13.5 years in May 2025. He is now appealing his conviction, with a hearing held on 13 October 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Oct
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Noonan was involved in importing €2.769 million worth of heroin in a supervisory role.
  • Quinn received the package in a controlled delivery and drove it in convoy with Noonan before gardaí intercepted them at a coffee shop.
Where
The offences took place at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11.
When
The offences took place on 5 August 2020.
Investigation
  • British police became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK, leading to a controlled delivery with a garda posing as a delivery driver.
  • Analysis of three phones retrieved from Noonan found the UPS tracking code for the package, which he had checked 27 times.
Charges
Noonan was convicted of three drugs offences relating to possession, sale and supply, and of possessing a phone with the Enigma encrypted application, and was acquitted of possessing a signal blocker.
In court
The appeal hearing took place on 13 October 2026, with defence arguing that evidence suggesting Noonan was a sophisticated importer of drugs prejudiced the jury.
Sentence
  • Noonan was sentenced to 13.5 years in May 2025 after a headline sentence of 15 years with mitigation.
  • Quinn pleaded guilty in 2021 and received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended, later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years with 18 months suspended.
Other details
  • Noonan denied any role in the drugs, claiming he was facilitating a friend in storing equipment for a sick child.
  • Quinn became involved in the offence due to gambling debt.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNoonan was involved in importing €2.769 million worth of heroin. (rte.ie)
  • whatAndrew Noonan has been jailed for 13.5 years over his role in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatNoonan was convicted of three offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of drugs at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on 5 August 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoonan was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoonan was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinn pleaded guilty and received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended in 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinn's sentence was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinn has since been released. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoonan has prior convictions for road traffic offences, unauthorised possession of a firearm and possession of an air rifle in suspicious circumstances over 25 years ago. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatSome of the emails also referred to a shipment of tobacco. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatInternal CCTV showed Quinn taking out his phone and interacting with the package in what was later found to be a picture and text messages sent to Noonan. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinn placed the package in his car and drove in convoy with another car driven by Noonan to another office in the estate. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinn got out, placed the package in the office, and then drove in convoy with Noonan to a coffee shop where gardaí intercepted them. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoonan had previously been a League of Ireland player, a manager, and club secretary of Bluebell United. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPrior to the trial, Noonan had been employed for the previous eight years with a transport company. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatJudge Sheahan said at the time of the offending, Noonan was the manager of a soccer team and was employed in a family business, in a position of trust and influence over young men. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe judge said Noonan actively engaged in the project and was committed to its success, motivated by financial gain. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNoonan denied any role in relation to the drugs and said he was facilitating a friend in relation to storage of equipment for a sick child. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe drugs were possessed, sold and supplied at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe drugs offences took place at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereNoonan is of Redhills Park, Ellistown, Co Kildare. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereQuinn is of Monastery Gate Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on 5 August 2020. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on August 5, 2020. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe appeal hearing took place on 13 October 2026. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí posed as delivery men in a controlled delivery of the drugs. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBritish police became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí carried out a controlled delivery, with a garda posing as a delivery driver. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThree phones were retrieved from Noonan's person and his car. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationAnalysis of Noonan's phones found the UPS tracking code for the package, and he had checked its location 27 times. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted after a trial of three drugs offences. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of possessing a phone with an encrypted application. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of three drugs offences relating to possession, sale and supply of the drugs. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeNoonan was convicted of possessing a phone with the Enigma encrypted application. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtGardaí believed Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to his co-accused. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceNoonan was jailed for 13 and a half years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 15 years before taking mitigation into account. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said there was no basis to suspend any of the term. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceCo-accused Keith Quinn pleaded guilty and received a seven and a half year sentence in 2021. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal later increased Quinn's sentence to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of 15 years and imposed 13.5 years after mitigation. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceKeith Quinn pleaded guilty and received a seven and a half year sentence, with the final three and a half years suspended, in 2021. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal later increased Quinn's sentence to eight years with 18 months suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherNoonan was acquitted of possessing a signal blocker. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherNoonan does not accept the jury's verdict and denied any role in relation to the drugs. (rte.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherGardaí believe Noonan had a supervisory role in relation to co-accused Keith Quinn. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherQuinn became involved in the offence due to gambling debt. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Oct2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, its first report
    Former football manager appeals conviction for importing €2.7m of heroin

    Covers the appeal hearing on 13 October 2026, detailing defence arguments about prejudicial phone evidence, a garda's opinion on coded terms, the Enigma app charge, and Keith Quinn's fitness to give evidence, as well as prosecution responses and further trial details about the controlled delivery.

    convicted, Andrew Noonan, 47, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Noonanconvicted, Keith Quinn, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Quinn
  2. 16 May2025
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, its first report
    Kildare resident jailed over €2.7m heroin seizure

    Reports the sentencing of Andrew Noonan after his trial. Co-accused Keith Quinn pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier, and his sentence was later increased on appeal.

    convicted, Andrew Noonan, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Noonanconvicted, Keith Quinn, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Quinn
  3. 16 May2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man sentenced to 13 and a half years for importing heroin

    Reports the sentence of 13 and a half years imposed on Noonan, the judge's sentencing remarks, the headline sentence of 15 years, and co-accused Keith Quinn's earlier sentence and Court of Appeal increase.

    convicted, Andrew Noonan, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Noonanconvicted, Keith Quinn, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Quinn