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. 15624Possession of a drug for sale or supply (cocaine); money laundering · Co. Donegal · 6 Jan 2022

Man avoids prison after cocaine sale to undercover garda in Letterkenny

On 6 January 2022, Oluwashina Omoniyo, a 22-year-old man, was arrested after allegedly handing a bag of cocaine to an undercover detective on Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, for €100. Gardaí had identified a phone number linked to drug sales in the area and used it to arrange the purchase, and analysis confirmed the substance was cocaine. Omoniyo was charged with possessing a drug for sale or supply and with money laundering, and he pleaded guilty in January 2024. At Letterkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Aylmer imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months in prison, with 12 months to complete it, as reported on 30 October 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Omoniyo allegedly handed over a ziplock bag containing a white substance and was given €100.
Where
The offence took place on Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
When
The offence took place on 6 January 2022, when Omoniyo said by phone at 3.15pm that he would be there in 10 minutes on a scooter.
Cause
Defence counsel said Omoniyo was not motivated by drug debts or coercion.
Investigation
  • Gardaí became aware of a telephone number involved in drug sales in the Letterkenny area, and senior officers gave an undercover detective €100 and told him to contact it.
  • Analysis confirmed the substance in the bag was cocaine.
  • Detective Garda O'Keefe identified Omoniyo and he was arrested.
Charges
Omoniyo was charged with possessing an illegal drug for the purpose of selling or supplying it to others, and with money laundering.
In court
  • Omoniyo entered a guilty plea in January 2024.
  • Judge John Aylmer said the starting point for sentencing was 18 months in prison, which mitigating factors would reduce to 12 months.
Sentence
  • Judge Aylmer sentenced Omoniyo to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months in prison.
  • Omoniyo was given 12 months to complete the community service order.
Other details
  • Omoniyo is 22 years old, has a baby son, has no previous convictions, and works in a bookmaker in Dublin.
  • The Probation Service assessed Omoniyo as a low risk of reoffending.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOmoniyo handed over a ziplock bag containing a white substance and was given €100. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place on Port Road, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on January 6, 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenAt 3.15pm on the date in question, the man answered and said he would be there in 10 minutes on a scooter. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeDefence counsel said Omoniyo was not motivated by drug debts or coercion. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí became aware of a telephone number involved in drug sales in the Letterkenny area. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationSenior officers gave an undercover detective €100 and told him to contact the phone number. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAnalysis confirmed the substance in the bag was cocaine. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationDetective Garda O'Keefe identified Omoniyo and he was arrested. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOmoniyo was charged with possessing an illegal drug for the purpose of selling or supplying it to others. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOmoniyo was also charged with money laundering. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtOmoniyo entered a guilty plea in January 2024. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge John Aylmer said the starting point for sentencing was 18 months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMitigating factors would reduce the sentence to 12 months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Aylmer sentenced Omoniyo to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceOmoniyo was given 12 months to complete the community service order. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherOmoniyo is 22 years old and has a baby son. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherOmoniyo has no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherOmoniyo is working in a bookmaker in Dublin. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe Probation Service assessed Omoniyo as a low risk of reoffending. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Oct2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Man avoids prison after selling cocaine to undercover cop in Letterkenny

    Reports the Circuit Court sentencing of Omoniyo, including the detective's account of the undercover sale, the judge's remarks, the 18-month starting point, and the community service sentence. The article gives no earlier case match in the list.

    convicted, Oluwashina Omoniyo, 22, male, namedOluwashina Omoniyo